Seed is the means by which angiosperm plants disseminate offspring. It contains an embryo and food reserves inside a protective outer covering. It is one of the most important aspects of many ecosystems.
Seeds must imbibe (soak up) water to initiate germination. This is determined by the permeability of the seed coat, the availability of water, and the temperature.
They are a source of food
Seeds are a source of nutrient-dense energy, with high levels of protein and healthy fats. They also provide dietary fiber, which can reduce the risk of heart disease, bowel cancer and diabetes. They are easy to add to your diet and can be enjoyed in many ways. Some of the most common seeds are sunflower, chia and hemp seeds. These can be used to make chia “pudding” or sprinkled on yogurt or granola. They are a nutritious alternative to nuts for schools that are sensitive to allergies.
Seeds are the primary sources of a wide variety of foods, including cereal grains (wheat, rice and corn), legumes (beans and peas) and forest trees and turf grasses. They are also important sources of nonfood products, such as oils for cooking, margarine and paint production and lubrication, from flax, linseed, cotton, soybeans and coconut.
They are a source of plant breeding
Seeds are a key part of all procedures to improve crops through breeding. Plant breeders often use wild seed to find useful characters. For example, seed shattering at maturation is a natural feature of wild grasses to disperse their offspring, but it’s unprofitable for farming, so resistance to this trait has been bred into many crop plants.
A seed is a fertilized ovule enclosed in a protective outer covering (seed coat) and food reserves that feed the embryo until it can grow on its own. These nutrient reserves are called endosperm. Most flowering plants produce seeds, while gymnosperms such as ferns and liverworts do not.
Seeds are also used for nonfood purposes. Cotton plant seeds contain fibers that can be spun into yarn, and oil from linseed, jojoba, and crambe plants are used in paints. Seeds are also an important source of medicine. Castor oil, for example, is a common pain reliever. However, many seeds are poisonous.
They are a source of landscaping
Seeds contain everything they need to begin a new life, including an embryonic plant with roots, stems and leaves. A seed coat protects the embryo from harsh conditions and a food supply called endosperm nourishes it until it can grow. The embryonic plant may undergo physiologic dormancy that is broken by cool, wet or warm dry conditions. In addition, some seeds are photosensitive and require light to germinate.
Whether you collect your own seeds or buy them, it is important to store them properly. Optimum storage conditions are cool, dark and dry, such as in the refrigerator. Seed viability declines rapidly with warmer temperatures and high humidity.
Two general types of seed are available for purchase: hybrid and open pollinated (OP). Hybrid seeds are produced by a controlled cross between two different parent plants to produce superior combinations of desired traits such as earlier flowering, increased yields and disease resistance. OP seeds are those that have not been crossed with other species and were developed mainly before World War II.
They are a source of medicine
Seeds are an important source of food and medicines. They contain all the starting materials needed to grow complex plants, and are rich in nutrients. They contain proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They can also decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. They can also provide you with essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, which help protect the cells of your body. They are also a source of fiber and potassium, as well as lignans.
Seeds are used to propagate crops such as cereal grains, legumes, forest trees, turfgrasses, and pasture grasses. They are also a source of many other useful products, such as oils for cooking and margarine production, paints, and lubricants. Seeds are also a source of a variety of medicinal and aromatic plants, such as anise, basil, borage, cilantro, and chamomile. The seeds of these plants are rich in a number of beneficial compounds, including the essential oils terpenoids and phenols.
