The first process which occurs when the seed is placed in the soil is ______.
During the beginning stage of the germination, the seeds take up water rapidly and this results in swelling and softening of the seed coat at an optimum temperature. By rupturing of the seed coats helps to emerge the radicle and the plumule to form a primary root. This stage is referred to as an imbibition. So, the correct answer is ‘Imbibition’.