BRAINCAKESeed Germination
When the seed absorbs water the embryo is activated and produces gibberellins which switch on genes that code for amylases and proteases to break down food stores in the seed. In dicot seeds, the food stores are cotyledons and in monocots the food store is the endosperm. The embryo plant then produces ATP and grows and breaks through the seed coat (testa).
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- gibberellin
- A plant growth hormone that stimulates stem elongation, breaks seed dormancy and triggers the mobilisation of food stores during germination.
- abscisic acid
- A plant hormone that maintains dormancy and causes stomatal closure in response to water stress.
- hormone
- A chemical messenger, secreted by an endocrine gland directly into the blood, that travels to target cells bearing complementary receptors and brings about a response.
- ATP
- Adenosine triphosphate, the universal energy currency of cells, formed by adding an inorganic phosphate to ADP and hydrolysed to release energy for cellular reactions.
More in Plant Responses
- Plant Growth Responses
- Plant Hormones
- Apical Dominance
- Gibberellins: Synergy and Antagonism.
- Leaf Loss
- Flowering and Day-Length
- Preventing Freezing
- Stomatal Control
All 19 lessons in Plant Responses · All AQA A-level Biology topics