Download Plants and Seeds

Plants and Seeds
From Seed to Plant
• Seeds become Plants in a
process called
“Germination”
• Seeds are dormant and
protected by a tough
outer coat.
• Inside is an embryo
surrounded by
endosperm, which is
food-storing tissue
• Also inside the seed is a
cotyledon, or seed leaves
Monocots and Dicots
• Seeds with only one
cotyledon are called
“monocots”
• Monocots such as wheat,
rice and corn use energy
from the endosperm
• Seeds that contain two
cotyledons are called
“dicots”
• In Dicots such as beans and
Fast Plants the cotyledons
emerge and provide energy
to the plant.
Germination and Growth
• A seed planted in soil will
absorb water and get
larger
• The “Primary Root”
emerges from the seed
• Root hairs and secondary
roots form providing a
way for plants to acquire
nutrients
• Cotyledons push up and
when they sense sunlight,
expand providing energy
until
Growth and Development
• As the plant grows more
leaves and roots develop.
• The plant eventually
matures and flowers
• The flowers are pollinated
and fertilization occurs
• As flowers wither fruit
develops to provide a
protective covering for
seeds which will begin the
process again
Plant Nutrition
• Plant “food” is glucose, a form of sugar that
provides energy that they produce through the
process called Photosynthesis
• Plants also require light, water and a suitable
temperature along with minerals
• Minerals don’t provide energy but help plants
function properly
• “Plant Food” provides a mixture of substances
that plants need for proper growth and are
sometimes called fertilizers
Macro and Micro Nutrients
• Plants absorb minerals
from the soil but
sometimes there are not
enough and fertilizers are
used to supply the
needed minerals that are
missing
• Plants need 13 different
minerals but three are
essential
• These “Macronutrients”
are Nitrogen, Phosphate,
and Potassium (or Potash)
Wisconsin Fast Plants (Brassica rapa)
• Wisconsin Fast Plants were
developed by Dr. Paul
Williams at UW.
• They go through their life
cycle in 6 weeks
• Dr Williams cross pollinated
those that grew fastest
(along with other
properties) which is known
as “selective breeding”
• Fast plants belong to a
family of plants called
“Crucifers” which include
cabbage, cauliflower and
Brussell sprouts