Biology · Environmental Studies

Plant Reproduction and Germination

892 Questions

Plant reproduction and germination involve seed structure, cotyledon function, and dispersal mechanisms. These core botany concepts frequently appear in general science sections. Practice these questions to ensure better retention.

Seed germination typesSeed dispersal mechanismsCotyledons and albuminous seedsCryptogamic plantsPhanerogams reproduction

Plant Reproduction and Germination Questions

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

An albuminous seed showing hypogeal germination is

  1. Castor

  2. Bean

  3. Gram

  4. Maize
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Epigeal germination: In this type of germination, the hypocotyl elongates rapidly and arches upwards pulling the cotyledons which move above the soil. Bean, cotton, papaya, gourd, castor and onion have germination of this kind.

Hypogeal germination: In this type of germination, the epicotyl elongates and the cotyledons remain below the soil. Pea, mango, maize, rice, gram and groundnut have germination of this kind.

A. Castor- Albuminous seed shows epigeal germination.
B. Bean- Exalbuminous seed shows epigeal germination.
C. Gram- Exalbuminous seed shows hypogeal germination.
D. Maize- Albuminous seed shows hypogeal germination.
So, the correct answer is 'Maize'.
Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

Epigeal germination occurs in

  1. Pea

  2. Gram

  3. Castor

  4. Maize
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Epigeal germination: In this type of germination, the hypocotyl elongates rapidly and arches upwards pulling the cotyledons which move above the soil. Bean, cotton, papaya, gourd, castor and onion have germination of this kind.

Hypogeal Germination: In this type of germination, the epicotyl elongates and the cotyledons remain below the soil. Pea, mango, maize, rice, gram and groundnut have germination of this kind. So, the correct answer is 'Castor'.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

In some halophytes, seeds germinate within fruits while attached to parent plant. The phenomenon is

  1. Vivipary

  2. Monocrapic

  3. Vernalisation

  4. Seismonasty

  5. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A. Vivipary :  In plants, vivipary (precocious or premature germination) involves the germination of seeds while still on the parent plant. It is a widespread phenomenon in plants characterized by the lack of seed dormancy. 

C. Monocarpic- flowering only once.

D. Vernalisation- The cooling of seed during germination in order to accelerate flowering when it is planted.

E. Seismonasty is the nastic response of a plant or fungus to touch or vibration.

So, the correct answer is 'Vivipary'.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

Terminator gene

  1. Helps in terminating flowering

  2. Helps in terminating seed germination

  3. Used in hybridisation

  4. None of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Terminator genes are genetic modifications designed to prevent seeds from germinating in subsequent generations, effectively forcing farmers to buy new seeds.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

In hypogeal germination, plumule comes out of ground due to elongation of

  1. Hypocotyl

  2. Epicotyl

  3. Cotyledons

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In this type of germination, the epicotyl elongates and the cotyledons remain below the soil. Pea, mango, maize, rice, gram and groundnut have germination of this kind. So, the correct answer is 'Epicotyl'.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

Which of the following comes first out of the soil in the bean seed?

  1. Hypocotyl

  2. Radicle

  3. Leaf foliage

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The hypocotyl elongates rapidly and arches upwards pulling the cotyledons which move above the soil. Bean, cotton, papaya, gourd, castor and onion have germination of this kind.
So the correct option is 'Hypocotyl'.
Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

Which one of the following statements is not correct regarding vivipary?

  1. Seeds germinate within the fruit while still attached to the mother plant

  2. It usually occurs under highly saline conditions

  3. It occurs in the mangrove plants

  4. It involves a dormancy period for the seed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Vivipary involves the seed germinating immediately while attached to the parent, thereby bypassing the typical dormancy period that other seeds undergo.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

Identify the correct sequence of stages of germination in pea plant.

  1. Bursting of the seed coat, radicle comes out, coleoptile pushed upward, primary root and leaf foliage developed.

  2. Bursting of the seed coat, radicle comes out, plumule pushed upward, primary root developed.

  3. Bursting of the seed coat, radicle comes out, primary root developed, hypocotyl comes out of the soil.

  4. Bursting of the seed coat, coleoptile pushed upward, radicle comes out, primary root and leaf foliage developed.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants. First, environmental conditions must trigger the seed to grow.
  1. When water is plentiful, the seed fills with water in a process called imbibition.
  2. The water activates special proteins, called enzymes, that begin the process of seed growth. 
  3. The seed grows a root to access water underground. 
  4. The shoot appears above ground. 
  5. The seed sends a shoot towards the surface, where it will grow leaves to make food that provides energy. 
  6. The leaves continue to grow towards the light source in a process called photomorphogenesis.
So the correct option is 'Bursting of the seed coat, radicle comes out, plumule pushed upward, primary root developed.'
Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

In vivipary type of seed germination, the seeds undergo _________________.

  1. Twelve months of resting period

  2. Six months of resting period

  3. Three months of resting period

  4. No resting period
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In viviparous seed germination, seeds germinate directly on the parent plant without entering a dormant or resting period, allowing immediate establishment upon dropping.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

In germinating oil seeds $\beta$-oxidation of free fatty acids takes place in ______________.

  1. Oleosoines

  2. Glyoxysomes

  3. Mitochondria

  4. Cytosol
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

During the germination of oil seeds, the beta-oxidation of fatty acids occurs inside specialized microbodies called glyoxysomes. These organelles contain the enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, converting fatty acids into carbohydrates to support growth.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

In nature, the orchid seeds germinate only in association with _______________.

  1. Myxomycetes

  2. Mycorrhiza

  3. Blue green algae

  4. Actinomycetes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Orchid seeds lack stored food reserves and depend entirely on a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi to provide nutrients for germination in nature. Without this fungal association, natural germination does not occur.

Multiple choice biology seeds - structure and germination germination seed germination the flower

During germination of barley grain, the enzyme a-amylase is secreted by ______________.

  1. Seed coat

  2. Aleuronic layer

  3. Coleorhizae

  4. Coleoptiles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In cereal grains like barley, the aleurone layer synthesizes and secretes hydrolytic enzymes such as alpha-amylase upon stimulation by gibberellic acid during germination. These enzymes break down starchy endosperm reserves into sugars for the embryo.