Week Two

Well, it's been approximately 5 days and those whipper snapper seeds show no sign of life. So, I decided to do some research on these seeds, you know, only to let the time go by. It's not like I'm in to that biology stuff, pfft... what nerds, those biologists, eh? Anyway, this is what I have learned.

Firstly, the embryo (the little jackanapes) are surrounded by food supplies such as the endosperm. And, I also figured out that tomatoes are dicots, so I guess this means that the seed has two cotyledons: these may for the embryonic first leaves of the seed since they absorb food from the endosperm when the seed germinates. Pfffff, yeah. As if these guys are even gonna grow at all by this rate. Anyway. I'm also shown that the embryo is embraced and enclosed by a protective seed coat. It appears that this so called coat is formed from the integuments of the ovule after fertilization. The embryo consists of the cotyledons and where they are attached is called the epicotyl. Right below that, they call it the hypocotyl. And where that  terminates they call it the radical.






Another thing is germination. So, when the seed matures from fertilization it dehydrates and enters the dormancy phase. In this phase, the metabolic rate is extremely low and there is a complete suspension of growth and development. For the seed to break this dormancy, it says here that the conditions have to be favorable for growth. Are you kidding me? I've given these kids 10 tons of water and daily dose of sunlight! Kids these days with their socks and there pocket phones. Nothing is enough for them.

 In any case. The source mentions that this is method increases the chances that the seed will germinate and survive. I guess this makes sense since it allows for a broader time frame for it to develop. Allowing the seed to germinate when the environment is suitable. Pretty cool. In my case, it seems that tomato plants require enough moisture to begin germinating. Maybe I should just throw the pot in the ocean? Ill hold on for now.

So, when the seed germinates when it is hydrated enough, the first organ to emerge appears to be the radicle which grows into the roots of the plant. From there, hopefully the shoots will break through the soil surface, forming a hook in the hypocotyl which will straighten when stimulated by light. The foliaged leaves will then release from the cotyledon.

Cool stuff.