Question

What is an embryo in a plant?

Answer 1

Embryo:

1. Shortly after fertilization, the zygote undergoes a series of divisions according to patterns characteristic of each species to produce the embryo.
2. The seed coat encloses an embryo, differentiated into radicle, plumule, and cotyledons.
3. The radicle, when elongated, gives rise to the primary root whereas the plumule gives rise to the aerial shoot.
4. The number of cotyledons may be one (as in monocotyledons) or two (as in dicotyledons).
5. Sometimes, they store reserve food materials (e.g., gram, pea, Almond, Cashewnut, etc.) or serve as photosynthetic organs in the young seedling.
6. The part of an embryonic axis between the radicle and the point of attachment of cotyledon is called the hypocotyl.
7. Similarly, the part of the embryonic axis between the plumule and the point of the attachment of cotyledons is called epicotyl.