Flowering plants reproduce sexually, culminating in the production of seeds containing a dormant embryo.
Name the specific structure within the ovary of a flower where female gametes are produced and which eventually develops into a seed.
Before a seedling can establish itself above the soil to carry out photosynthesis, it must grow using stored resources. Explain how a germinating seed mobilises and uses these resources to survive and grow.
A student investigates the physiological requirements for the germination of mung bean (Vigna radiata) seeds.
The student prepares four batches of seeds, labelled W, X, Y, and Z. Each batch is placed in a separate sealed container under the conditions detailed in the table below:
| Batch | Conditions |
|---|---|
| W | Moist filter paper, exposed to air containing oxygen, kept at 5∘C5^\circ\text{C}5∘C |
| X | Submerged in boiled distilled water, sealed with a layer of liquid paraffin (oil) to exclude oxygen, kept at 25∘C25^\circ\text{C}25∘C |
| Y | Moist filter paper, exposed to air containing oxygen, kept at 25∘C25^\circ\text{C}25∘C |
| Z | Dry filter paper, exposed to air containing oxygen, kept at 25∘C25^\circ\text{C}25∘C |
Identify one macroscopic physical change that provides clear evidence that a seed has initiated germination.
Deduce which batch of seeds will germinate first, explaining the biological importance of each factor provided to this batch compared to the others.
