SEED GROWTHCorn, Peas, Beans

SETTING UP THE SEEDS - VERMICULITE

To set up the experiment:• Use clear cups and insert a

brown paper towel (seed roots show up better) into a plastic cup.

• Fill cup with vermiculite making sure the paper towel is pressed up against the clear cup.

• Put seed between the cup and paper towel (be careful to place each seed according to the directions that follow).

• Add water, just enough to keep the paper towel moist. .

• Place in a sunny spot in the classroom.

Purchase Vermiculite at any home improvement store in the garden section. It is a substance that will hold the water but not absorb the water. It contains no nutrients and will not aid the plant in growing past seed germination.

CORN – PARTS OF THE SEED

Image from: http://analytical.wikia.com/wiki/Endosperm

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

CORN

Corn

Plant the white side of the corn towards the cup as this is where the seed starts the root. Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

CORN

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

CORNThe corn seed begins to germinate.

Some seeds will not germinate like this seed. This is a good opportunity begin a discussion of why this seed did not germinate.

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

CORN

Stem is starting to grow

Roots are starting to grow

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

CORN

Stem continues to grow

Roots continue to grow

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

CORN

The stem continues to grow

The roots continue to grow

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS – PARTS OF THE SEED

Image from: http://www.seedbiology.de/structure.asp

PEAS

The pea seeds are wrinkled prior to planting. Make sure to point this out to the students so they can make the observation of the seed absorbing water and becoming smooth.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS

Notice how the pea seed is wrinkled.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS

As the seed begins to germinate it takes up water and the seed loses it’s wrinkles and becomes smooth.

Imhibition of water

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS

The root and stem break through the seed coat and begins to grow.

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEASThe root begins to grow down while the stem begins to grow up.

STEM

ROOTS

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS

Roots continue to grow

Stem continues to grow

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS

The stem begins to develop leaves.

The roots continue to grow.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

PEAS

The stem continues to grow leaves.

The roots continue to grow.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

Images from: http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page1/page2/page2.html and http://qinglovesbiology.blogspot.com/2011/04/34-plant-fertilisation.html

BEANS

Testa or seed coat - provides protection to the seed prior to germination.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEAN - PARTS OF THE SEED

Plumule or shoot - develops into the first set of leaves as the plant grows.

Cotyledon – provides the nutrition to the developing plant.

Radicle or embryonic root – Develops into the root of the plant.

Image from: http://homeschoolblogger.com/preparation/727274/

BEANS

BeansPlant with the hilum facing down.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEANS

The embryonic root begins it’s downward decent.Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEANS

The testa (seed coat) softens as water is absorbed and the stem and roots break through the seed coat.

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEANSThe stem continues to grow

The roots continue to grow

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEANS

The seed coat begins to become dry allowing the stem and plumule to break through the coat and grow.

The roots continue to grow.

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEANS

Notice the cotyledons, they are providing the nutrition the plant needs to begin to grow. Soon they will become depleted, dry up and fall off the plant.

The plumule have developed into the first true leaves of the plant.

Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

BEANS

The cotyledons will soon dry up and fall off the plant.

Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

RESOURCES

http://analytical.wikia.com/wiki/Endosperm http://www.seedbiology.de/structure.asp http://

herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page1/page2/page2.html http://

qinglovesbiology.blogspot.com/2011/04/34-plant-fertilisation.html

http://homeschoolblogger.com/preparation/727274/

Photographs from Oglethorpe University, EDU 615 – Inquiring into Science, taken by Carrie Reynolds