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Basic 3 · Science · Life Cycle of Organism

Watching Seeds Germinate

In this topic you will observe and record the stages of maize and bean germination.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name the parts that appear during germination
  • Describe the stages of germination
  • Compare bean and maize germination

What you already know

  • What seeds need to germinate

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Cycles
Sub-strand
Life Cycle of Organism
Indicator
B3.2.2.1.2 – Observe the germination of maize and bean seeds

Introduction

After a few days, a white root comes out of the bean. Later a shoot grows upwards. Let us record what happens.

1. Stages of Germination

  1. The seed takes in water and swells.
  2. The seed coat splits.
  3. A small root (radicle) grows down.
  4. A shoot (plumule) grows up.
  5. Green leaves open.
Stages of bean germination from seed to seedling
Figure 1: Stages of germination Draw the stages and label root and shoot.Illustration: Sirbus

2. Bean and Maize Compared

Bean and maize
BeanMaize
seed leavescome above the soilstay below the soil
first rootone main rootmany thin roots later
first leaftwo leavesone thin leaf

3. Recording

My germination record
DayWhat I saw
1seeds placed on damp cotton wool
3seeds swollen; root appears
5shoot appears
7green leaves

New words

radicle
The first root of a seed.
plumule
The first shoot of a seed.
seed coat
The outer skin of a seed.
seedling
A young plant.

Summary

  • The root grows first, then the shoot.
  • Bean seed leaves come above the soil; maize seed stays below.
  • We record what happens each day.

Class activity: Seedling Diary

  1. Look at your jar each day.
  2. Draw and write what you see.
  3. Measure the shoot with a ruler.

You need: Bean, Maize seeds, Cotton wool in clear jars, Cup of water

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. What grows first from a seed?

    • A. The root
    • B. The flower
    • C. The fruit
    • D. The leaves
    Show answer
    Answer: The rootThe radicle grows first.

  2. 2. The first shoot of a seed is the…

    • A. Plumule
    • B. Radicle
    • C. Seed coat
    • D. Flower
    Show answer
    Answer: PlumuleThe plumule grows up.

  3. 3. The seed coat splits during germination.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThe root pushes out.

  4. 4. Maize seed leaves come above the soil like beans.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseMaize seed stays below the soil.

  5. 5. A young plant is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: seedlingThat is a seedling.

  6. 6. Put in order: shoot appears, seed swells, root appears.

    Show answer
    Answer: Seed swells, root appears, shoot appears.The root comes before the shoot.

Homework

  1. Plant your germinated bean in soil and keep watering it.