Why do seeds germinate?

Question

Seeds germinate due to what? planted in a cup with dirt? being exposed to water?

Answer 1

Seeds germinate because they want to grow and reproduce the plant species. Just like how humans and animals reproduce. You can also picture a seed as a chicken egg and how the egg hatches if there is the right environment.

A seed germinate when it feels that the environment and resources are right. They need mud, moisture and nutrients for early survival. So when their need is fulfilled, they begin their germination process. At first, when they are little and young, they sprout using the nutrients inside of their seed package. As they mature, their seed coating falls off and they survive on the process of photosynthesis. By using water and sunlight to produce their own food.

The cycle starts all over again when the mature plant produces their own seed and the seed falls off to begin its germination again.

Answer 2

Germination varies depending on species-- some need to go through a period of freezing and then when it warms up it triggers the seed to being sprouting... others will germinate only after a fire has occurred. Usually proper levels of water, oxygen, temperature, and the correct soil conditions must be present for a seed to germinate. But species are different, so if there is a certain type of seed you are trying to germinate, you might want to look up it's specific specifications.

Answer 3

You got it - water!

http://plantphys.info/seedg/seed.html says it kick starts the seed's metabolism.

Another interesting fact, from my own experimentation, seedlings grow up against gravity, not up towards light. If you turn a seedling upside down it will bend to grow in the "new" upwards direction, regardless of any light source.

Answer 4

Species regeneration.