Question

Cotyledons shrivel, turn green and fall off in the last stages of epigeal germination. Give reason and explain the entire process.

Answer 1

Cotyledons may be one of the first visible signs a plant has germinated. What is a cotyledon? It is the embryonic part of a seed which stores fuel for further growth. Some cotyledons are seed leaves which fall off the plant within a few days.

Explantion fo falling of: Because it is a storage organ, the cotyledon is an inefficient provider for the adult plant, so it will shrivel and fall away from the plant as shade from the growing plant covers it, either because of senescence or because it is being edged out by an emerging root. When cotyledons fall away after several branches of true leaves have formed, it means that the plant has passed from the seedling stage to the mature stage of its growth and adult leaves have taken over. If, however, the plant gets too much water and falls victim to a fungal disease known as “damping off,” the cotyledons may fold before the adult leaves have a chance to deploy.