Dicotyledonous Monocotyledonous Seed


Introduction

Seeds are the result of the sexual reproduction of a plant. It has a major impact on human lives too because it provides basic food. However, seeds have a most important contribution to the world; it helps to grow new plants that make the planet much greener. The survival of the major plants depends on the production of seeds, as it is a process of replicating one plant.

What is Seed?

Seeds can be defined as a part of the plant, which is fertilized and matured ovule that helps the plant to preserve food. It is usually found inside the fruits that eventually convert into a completely new individual plant. Seeds only happen to angiosperms and gymnosperms. Angiosperms have seed that occurs after fertilization and develop within the fruits and they have matured ovule. Seeds of gymnosperms are exposed because there is no fruit or flowers to cover.

The seeds have three main parts embryo, endosperm and one seed coat. Based on the number of cotyledons, seeds can be divided into two major types such as

  • Dicotyledonous seed

  • Monocotyledonous Seed.

What is a Dicotyledonous seed?

Dicotyledonous seed is one major type of seed, which has two cotyledons. These cotyledons are embryonic leaves. This type of seeds can be found in Dicotyledon type of flowing plants. Foods are mainly stored in these two cotyledons, and the most common example of this kind of seed is bean and gram. In simple words, in dicotyledonous seeds, which can be referred to as dicot seeds, the embryo comprises of embryonal axis and two cotyledons.

Structure of Dicotyledonous Seed

  • Dicotyledonous types of seeds are also known as dicots.

  • The term dicotyledonous indicates that it has two cotyledons. There can be more than 200000 types of dicotyledonous, which can be found on this planet.

  • The dicotyledonous seed has an embryo that possesses two cotyledons and one embryo axis.

  • Cotyledons are the part where the food gets preserved and because of that, it has a swollen appearance.

  • The embryo axis has two ends; the portion that forms the root tip is known as the radicle and the other part form the shoot tip and is known as the plumule.

  • The whole seed is covered with a protective cover, which is called a seed coat. It has two major parts, the outer part is known as testa and the inner part is called tegmen.

  • Seeds are connected to fruits with a structure, it is known as hilum.

  • Examples of Dicot seeds are apples, plums etc.

What is Monocotyledonous Seed?

Monocotyledonous seeds are majorly endospermic but there are some exceptions as well. For example, orchids are non-endospermic. These kinds of seeds have only one cotyledon. Monocotyledonous seeds are also referred to as monocot seeds. The most common examples of monocotyledonous seeds are coconut, onion, garlic, etc.

Structure of Monocotyledonous Seed

  • This kind of seed is also known as monocot seed.

  • It has only one cotyledon, which is large and known as the scutellum. It is shaped like a shield and can be found on one side of the embryo axis.

  • It has a similarity with the dicots, it also has plumule, coleoptile, and coleorhiza.

  • This kind of seed is protected by a special protein layer, which is known as thealeurone layer.

  • The endosperms of monocot seeds are usually swollen and preserved all the nourishment

  • At the time of embryo development, the endosperm is not consumed completely and they are the nourishment tissues of the seeds. There are exceptions, such as the orchids.

  • Examples of monocotyledonous seeds are onion, coconut, banana etc.

What are Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons?

Monocotyledon plants are one type of plant, in which the seeds have only one cotyledon and they are known as the monocots. Examples of these kinds of plants are banana trees, daffodils, wheat and rice tree, etc. Dicotyledon plants are those plants, in which there are two cotyledons and this type of seed is known as dicots. The most common example of this type of plant is the tomato, peas, beans etc.

Conclusion

There are huge differences between the monocot and dicots. However, the main difference between these two types of seeds is the number of cotyledons. These two kinds of seeds are the most crucial part of plants because it is the final product of the sexual reproduction of a plant. It has a major impact on biology and the economy and affects the lives of humans.

FAQs

Qns 1. What are the main parts of seeds?

Ans. Generally, seeds have three main parts, embryo, endosperm and the seed coat. The embryo has three parts such as root, stem and leaves, the endosperm is made with starch protein and oil and it is considered the nutritive tissue of the seeds. Lastly, the seed coat is the protecting layer.

Qns 2. What is the importance of seed?

Ans. Seeds have major importance in the field of biology along with in the economy. It is made with protein, oil and starch, which eventually help the plant in growth and proper development.

Qns 3. Do all plants produce seeds?

Ans. Some plants do not produce seeds, and they do not grow from the seeds. Plants like ferns and mosses can grow from spores. Some of the plants can grow from the rhizomes.

Qns 4. What are the main types of leaves?

Ans. Leaves can be divided into mainly two types, such as simple leave and compound leaves.

Qns 5. What are the different types of roots?

Ans. There are majorly three root systems, which plants usually have. For example, they are as the taproot system, the fibrous root system and the adventitious root system.

Updated on: 15-Dec-2023

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