What is germination?
Q: What is germination?
A: Germination is the process in which a spore or seed starts to grow and produce a shoot, seedling, or hypha.
Q: How do spores differ from seeds?
A: Spores have a very limited lifespan and only a small percentage of them will germinate under the right conditions. Seeds contain an embryo, store of food (endosperm), and protective coat. They can survive much longer than spores, sometimes for hundreds of years.
Q: What must happen before seeds will germinate?
A: The dormancy period must be over and the hibernation must be ended by events in the environment that trigger germination such as temperature, water, fire, or cold spell.
Q: Are fruits similar to seeds when it comes to germination?
A: Yes, fruits are just like seeds with one or more extra layers derived from parts of the flower so they have the same requirements for germination.
