Beakers D, E, F and G contain seeds that have been... | WAEC SSCE - Biology - 2021 (Objective)

Question 1 Report

Beakers D, E, F and G contain seeds that have been sown for seven days. Carefully remove one seed/seedling from each of the beakers labelled D, E, F and place each on the corresponding white tile labelled D, E, F and G. Study them and answer questions 2(a) to 2(c). (a) Observe the soils and seed/seedling then record the observation and result on the table below.

(b)(i) Name one condition for germination that was likely absent in the beakers labelled E, F and G
E: _________ F: _________ G: _________
(ii) Give two reasons for the result in beaker D.
(c) Make a drawing 8cm to 10cm long of one sees/seedling obtained from the beaker labelled D and label fully.

Answer

Answer Details

Beakers D, E, F and G form a germination experiment. Beaker D is the control in which a viable seed is supplied with all the requirements for germination (water, oxygen, suitable warmth). In each of E, F and G one requirement is withheld, so germination fails in those three and succeeds only in D.

(a) Observation and result

Beaker	Observation	Result
D	Soil moist; seed has swollen, and a radicle (young root) and plumule (young shoot) have emerged	Germination occurred
E	Soil moist and warm, but the seed remains unchanged and later decays	No germination
F	Seed fully submerged under water and cut off from air; seed remains unchanged	No germination
G	Soil dry; seed remains hard and shrivelled	No germination

(b)(i) Condition for germination likely absent

E: a viable seed (the seed was dead / non-viable).
F: oxygen / air (the seed was drowned under water).
G: moisture / water (the soil was dry).

(b)(ii) Two reasons for the result in beaker D

All the conditions necessary for germination - water, oxygen (air), suitable warmth and a viable seed - were present together.
It is the control experiment, in which nothing is withheld, so the embryo was able to grow normally into a seedling.