Read a Seed by Its Stored Food
Mature seeds differ in whether food remains in endosperm or is transferred to cotyledons, and cereal grains retain a specialised aleurone layer.
Living-system questions are solved by matching a structure or organism to its function, process and stated condition.
Locate reserves
Pea is non-endospermic at maturity because the endosperm is consumed during embryo development; food remains in its cotyledons. Orchid seeds retain endosperm. The aleurone is the protein-rich outer layer of cereal endosperm.
Read dicot-seed landmarks
A typical dicot seed has a seed coat, two cotyledons and an embryonal axis. Hilum marks the attachment scar and micropyle is a small opening; neither is synonymous with the whole seed coat.
OlympIQ exam lens
- ✓Pea: non-endospermic; reserve in cotyledons.
- ✓Aleurone: protein-rich outer cereal endosperm.
- ✓Hilum = attachment scar; micropyle = pore.
Pea endosperm is consumed during seed development, not during germination.
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Practise 4 linked questions