Demonstration of Epigeal and Hypogeal Germination

Growth

Growth is a characteristic of living things. Growth is de ned as the permanent increase in size. Growth happens through cell division or cells getting larger. In most owering plants, growth starts when the seed begins to germinate.

Demonstration of Epigeal and Hypogeal Germination

Seed germination is the development of seed into a seedling. There are two types of germination: epigeal and hypogeal. Different seeds germinate differently depending on their clas-sification group. Monocotyledons leave their cotyledons underground; this is called hypogeal germination. In dicotyledons the cotyledon emerges above the soil; this is called epigeal germination.

Learning Objectives

To demonstrate epigeal and hypogeal germination.

Materials

Bean seeds, maize seeds, pots for sowing*, soil, and water

Preparation Procedure

1.           Prepare 2 pots with soil for sowing seeds.

2.           Collect maize and beans seeds.

3.            Direct students to sow a few maize and bean seeds in two separate pots.

Activity Procedure

1.           Observe the seedlings as they emerge from the soil.

2.           Draw and label diagrams of maize and bean seedlings and classify as epigeal or hypogeal.

Figure 6.13: Hypogeal germination

Results and Conclusion

In epigeal germination cotyledons are carried above the soil, as in the germi-nation of bean seeds (dicotyledonous seeds). In hypogeal germination cotyle-dons remains underground, as in the germination of maize seeds(monocotyledonous seed).

Figure 6.14: Epigeal germination