(a) (i) What is meant by the germination of seeds? (ii) Seeds may remain inactive for a period before germination - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 9 - 2008

This period of inactivity in seeds before germination is referred to as 'dormancy.' During dormancy, seeds do not germinate even under favorable environmental conditions.

The seeds used for the investigation were [specific type of seed, e.g., sunflower seeds].

To set up a control for the investigation, I prepared two identical setups with the same type of seeds and environmental conditions. In one setup, all conditions were optimal for germination (water, oxygen, and temperature), while in the other setup, certain conditions were altered (e.g., limiting oxygen) to observe differences.

To deprive some of the seeds of oxygen, I placed them in an airtight container, which prevents air from entering. This setup effectively creates anaerobic conditions for the seeds.

I placed some of the seeds in a refrigerator to ensure they were kept in a colder environment, which is not suitable for germination. This allowed me to examine the effect of low temperatures on seed germination.

The results indicated that all seeds in the control setup demonstrated growth and germination when provided with optimal conditions. However, the seeds deprived of oxygen or exposed to low temperatures did not germinate, supporting the hypothesis that both oxygen and appropriate temperature are critical for seed germination.