(a) (i) What is meant by the term **germination**?
(ii) State three factors necessary for successful germination - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 8 - 2020
Question 8
(a) (i) What is meant by the term **germination**?
(ii) State three factors necessary for successful germination.
(b) Answer the following questions in relation to... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:(a) (i) What is meant by the term **germination**?
(ii) State three factors necessary for successful germination - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 8 - 2020
Step 1
What is meant by the term **germination**?
96%
114 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
Germination refers to the growth or development of a seed into a new plant, or the growth of the embryo, which is a part of the seed.
Step 2
State three factors necessary for successful germination.
99%
104 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
The three essential factors for successful germination are:
Oxygen: Essential for cellular respiration,
Water: Required to activate enzymes and hydrate the seed,
Suitable temperature: Necessary for optimal enzyme activity and metabolic processes.
Step 3
Why were the seeds soaked in water prior to the investigation?
96%
101 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
The seeds were soaked in water to begin the process of germination by breaking dormancy or activating necessary enzymes for metabolism. This also helps to soften the seed coat to facilitate nutrient absorption.
Step 4
Describe how you further prepared the seeds and added them to the agar plate(s).
98%
120 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
To prepare the seeds, I split or cut them, and then sterilized them by soaking in disinfectant. After sterilization, I positioned the seeds flat on the agar surface, ensuring that I used a control with uncut or dead seeds.
Step 5
Under what conditions did you store the plate(s) containing the seeds to allow germination to occur?
97%
117 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
The plates were stored in an incubator or at suitable room temperature, ideally between 15°C to 30°C, for a period of 1 to 7 days to encourage germination.
Step 6
How did you test to show that digestion had occurred?
97%
121 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
To test for digestion, I added iodine or Biuret solution to the agar, depending on whether I used starch agar or protein agar.
Step 7
State the result that showed digestion had occurred.
96%
114 rated
Only available for registered users.
Sign up now to view full answer, or log in if you already have an account!
Answer
The result indicated that digestion had occurred if the agar around the seeds turned blue-black with clear areas (indicating starch digestion) or if it turned purple around the seeds (indicating protein digestion).
Join the Leaving Cert students using SimpleStudy...