Seeds and Fruits

 Development of Seeds

It is the last stage of sexual reproduction in angiosperms.

Seeds are the fertilised ovules that are developed inside a fruit.

A seed consists of:

a. Seed coat

b. Cotyledons

c. Embryonal axis

Seeds may be albuminous (endosperm present; as in wheat and maize) or non-albuminous (endosperm absent; since it is consumed by the growing embryo; as in pea and beans).

Some seeds such as black pepper and wheat have remnants of nucellus known as perisperm.

The integuments of ovules harden to form the seed coat, and the micropyle facilitates the entry of oxygen and water into the seed.

As it loses moisture, the seed may enter dormancy, or if favourable conditions exist, it germinates.