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6. (a) Describe four signs of ripeness in a cereal - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 6 - 2008
Question 6
6. (a) Describe four signs of ripeness in a cereal. (b) Compare the growing of malting barley and feeding barley under the following headings: (i) Soil type (ii... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6. (a) Describe four signs of ripeness in a cereal - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 6 - 2008
Step 1
Describe four signs of ripeness in a cereal.
Answer
- Color Change: The crop typically appears bleached or yellow when ripe. This indicates that the grain has reached its mature stage.
- Grain Hardness: The seeds become hard as they mature, and their hardness can be assessed by applying pressure.
- Ear Drooping: The heads or ears of cereal crops tend to droop and align parallel to the stem when they are ripe.
- Leaf Condition: The leaves of the plant will become dry or dead, which often occurs when the crop is fully ripened.
Step 2
Step 3
Draw a labelled diagram to show the main structures of a cereal grain in longitudinal section.
Answer
The diagram should include the following structures with appropriate labels:
- Testa (pericarp): The outer protective layer.
- Endosperm: The main storage tissue for nutrients.
- Cotyledon: The seed leaf.
- Coleoptile: The sheath protecting the emerging shoot.
- Plumule: The embryonic shoot.
- Radicle: The embryonic root.
- Aleurone layer: A layer rich in proteins located just beneath the testa.