Running head: FACTORS AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION 1

Factors Affecting Seed Germination

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation
FACTORS AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION 2

Lab report for the experiment: Factors Affecting Seed Germination

Abstracts

Seed Germination is an integral part of plant growth and development. In this case, the plant

needs some conditions that require seeds to germinate. Seed germination is a process that

entails the establishment of the necessary conditions for the growth of the plant. The

laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the primary factors affecting seed

germination and their level of impact. The lab experiment investigated the variables that

affect the germination of seeds. In the research, the seeds were placed in a moist towel and

placed in ten different bags. The investigation showed various factors affecting germination

at different levels. The finding of the study affirmed that water, oxygen, and temperatures are

conditions necessary for germination.

Introduction

When flowers blossom in the spring, one may notice some sprouts in the garden. The sprouts

represent a germinating seed. However, the seed may not sprout when the Temperature is

either too cold or too hot. The sprouting requires favorable temperatures and some moisture

from spring precipitates. The process that allows the growth of sprouts from the seeds is

known as germination. In this case, germination requires some conditions that make it

necessary for the seed to form structures that develop into a plant.

Seed germination is the emergence and development of seed embryo to the essential

structures that could lead to the production of a healthy plant under the most favorable

conditions. The favorable conditions for the germination of include water, moisture, air, and

temperatures. The germination of seed requires moist substratum with a relative humidity

between 90% and 95%. A few grains such as rice may germinate in water, although

excessive water can be a cause for restriction of respiration (Lynch, Marschner &

Rengel,2012). When there is excessive water, seeds may not develop roots but rather die.
 FACTORS AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION 3

Temperature is necessary for the development of the plant as well as the emergence of roots.

A germinating seed requires temperatures between 10 and 35 degrees centigrade. Warmth

accelerates the growth of cells by stimulating enzymes to enable the growth of the root cells

and tissues (Shaban, 2013). However, excessive temperatures may denature the cells, making

it impossible for the growth of the cells through cell differentiation.

Seed germination occurs naturally through which the buds enhance the sprout of root

structures that aid in the growth and development of the plant. In this case, the factors may

either be internal or external, depending on the rate of growth. The well-studied and known

factors for seed germination are water and soil. Another factor that has been on studies for

years is the size of seeds. Some of the internal and external variables that inhibit or stimulate

the seed germination include:

Sl No. Factor Level of impact

1. Temperature High

2. Moisture High

3. Sunlight High

4. Oxygen High

5. Dormancy Medium

6. Hydrated enzymes Medium

7. Darkness Low

8. Emergence Low

9. Seed size medium

10. Soil Medium

11. Humidity Medium

12. Pressure medium

13. Burial Depth medium

 FACTORS AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION 4

14. pH medium

Table 2: Factors Affecting Seed Germination

Objective

The primary objective of the investigation was to determine the factors that affect the rate of

germination among seeds. As a result, the researcher's design and execute an experiment to

identify the various factors that affect the process of seed germination.

Hypothesis

Light, moisture, and oxygen are high-level factors that affect the process of seed germination.

Although several other factors influence the process of seed germination by either inhibiting

or stimulating the process of seed germination, light, moisture, and oxygen are the underlying

conditions that should be achieved for the seed to germinate.

Control

Positive Control: Enabling the seeds to germinate with Intense Light, moisture and Oxygen

Negative Control: enabling the seed germination without either humidity, oxygen, or

Temperature.

Experiment

The Required Materials

Although the report is individual, the lab investigation was done in groups. The investigator

required 100 beans, (10) 5 x 8 in. Bags, a permanent marker, a ruler, paper towel as well as

some water. In particular, the experiment required a masking tape.

Notes on Bean Germination

Soaking the seeds overnight in water before starting the experiment may reduce the time of

germination. Germination of the seed takes 7 to 10 days. Therefore, it is useful to ensure that

the paper towel remains moist during the duration of the experiment.

Method
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The laboratory experiment to determine factors affecting seed germination was

conducted in groups. The experiment required the investigator to think of 10-20 variables that

affect seed germination and list them in table 2 with their level of significance in the process.

From the list of the variables, three variables, moisture, oxygen, and temperatures, were

selected due to their level of importance in the process of germination.one folded moist paper

towel was placed in the 5 by 8 in. Bag. After that, the experimenter placed ten beans in a

horizontal line on the paper towel. Different prepared paper bags were necessary for each of

the three variables.

The experimenter labeled each bag with the names of the tested variables such as

moisture, oxygen, and or Temperature. After eight days, the investigator observed the

germination of seeds and recorded the results in table 3. The results for the data were

recorded in a tabular form to allow presentation. The investigator created a bar graph to

determine the level of importance for each factor from the percentage in the table.

Results and observations

The finding from the laboratory experiment showed that various external and internal

factors affect the process of germination. The investigation confirmed that if either of

moisture, required amount of Temperature and oxygen misses in the 5 by 8 in. bag, the seed

encounters problems in germination. The investigator noted the internal and external factors

affecting the germination process and indicated them in table 2. When the investigator

provided oxygen at the required level, the seeds germinated faster and within a shorter time

than the expected eight days. In this case, the number of days reduced to 4.The effect of wet

and dry pre-chilling duration on germination was determined through placing the seeds

between two paper towels moistened in distilled water. The control experiment incorporated

a dry towel placed in the plastic bags. The duration of germination with moisture took four

days. There was no germination in the paper bags without moisture.

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The experiment revealed that the Temperature did not have much importance in the

process of germination. According to the observation, Temperature only stimulated the

process, reducing the number of germination days to 5. Contrary, the germination days for

seed in the moisture and oxygen were 4. However, Temperature's level of importance in

germination accounted for 20% as compared to 40% for oxygen and moisture, respectively,

as indicated in table 3. However, the other factors affecting germination had either medium or

low scale of influence to the germination duration. However, the various sources of errors in

the experiment were the fluctuation in the room temperatures. Also, the seed may not receive

the necessary intensity of sunlight since the first four days were cloudy.

Factor No of days for No of days for Level of

germination when germination when not importance

provided at right provided

levels

Oxygen 4 No germination at all 40%

Temperature 5 8 20%

Moisture 4 No germination at all 40%

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Level of importance
45% 40% 40%
40%
35%
30%
25% 20%
20%
15%
Level of importance
10%
5%
0%
Did not germinate 8 Did not germinate
4 5 4
Oxygen Temperature Water

Discussion

As the experiment portrays, numerous factors affect the rate of germination. The

factors may either be internal or external. The environmental factors affecting seed

germination include moisture, availability of oxygen, and the sunlight intensity. The PH

value and the burial depth also accounted for the rate of seed germination (Rezvani &

Zaefarian,2017). However, the experiment inference illustrated that moisture and oxygen are

the most vital factors for seed germination. When the elements were absent, the seed could

not germinate al all, giving the impression that they are the necessary conditions for seed

germination.

However, too much water has an adverse implication on the growth and development

of the seed. The availability of too much water may have an unfavorable impact on the

growth of seeds by filling all the air pockets in the soil. As a result, the plant roots may not

breach and get stressed during dormancy. Water is necessary for the activation of metabolic

functions. After absorption of water, the embryo expands and bursts and thus paving the way

for the plant to sprout (Yazdi et al., 2013). Oxygen is necessary for metabolism. It aids the

process of aerobic respiration, which offers vital energy up to the levels the plant grows

leaves. On the other hand, Temperature affects germination through moisture, hormone
FACTORS AFFECTING SEED GERMINATION 8

production. Therefore, a warmer temperature facilitates the process of evaporation and

decrease moisture, which may have a negative implication on germination (Yuan &Wen,

2018).

Conclusion

The experiment confirmed that the hypothesis was correct. Seed germination has

several factors that may either stimulate or inhibit its growth. The investigation concluded

that there are variously internal and external factors affecting the rate of germination. The

factors may lead to either reducing or increasing the duration of germination. However,

Temperature, oxygen, and moisture are the most important factors affecting germination.

Farmers need the information from the experiment to determine the most favorable

conditions for the germination of their crops. Therefore, lack of oxygen, moisture, and

Temperature may render the seed dormant, and germination may not take place.
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References

Lynch, J., Marschner, P., & Rengel, Z. (2012). Effect of internal and external factors on root

growth and development. In Marschner's mineral nutrition of higher plants (pp. 331-

346). Academic Press.

Rezvani, M., & Zaefarian, F. (2017). Effect of some environmental factors on seed

germination of Eryngium caeruleum M. Bieb. Populations. Acta Botanica

Brasilica, 31(2), 220-228.

Shaban, M. (2013). Effect of water and Temperature on seed germination and emergence as a

seed hydrothermal time model. International Journal of Advanced Biological and

Biomedical Research, 1(12), 1686-1691.

Yazdi, S. A. F., Rezvani, M., Mohassel, M. H. R., & Ghanizadeh, H. (2013). Factors

affecting seed germination and seedling emergence of sheep sorrel (Rumex

acetosella). Romanian Agricultural Research, 30(1), 373-380.

Yuan, X., & Wen, B. (2018). Seed germination response to high Temperature and water

stress in three invasive Asteraceae weeds from Xishuangbanna, SW China. PloS

one, 13(1), e0191710.