Question

What is the difference between embryo and seed?

Answer 1

Hint: Both the embryo and the seed are parts of the plant that develop after fertilization takes place. The embryo is a part of the seed from which a new plant develops. Both the seed and embryo play important role in the process of germination.

Complete answer:
The seed is the part of the plant that develops as a result of sexual reproduction and stores food to provide nourishment to the developing embryo. Only under proper conditions the germination of the seed takes place where the new plant emerges, under unfavourable conditions the seed enters the state of dormancy and only returns to germination state when the conditions become favourable for growth. The differences between embryo and seed are as follows-

Embryo	Seed
It is the part of the seed that gives rise to the mature plant	It is the mature ovule formed after fertilization
No protective seed coat is present	It is covered by a protective seed coat
It cannot synthesize its own food and depends on the seed for food	It provides food to the embryo
The embryo comprises of the following parts- cotyledon, epicotyl, hypocotyl, plumule and radicle	The seed comprises of the following parts seed coat, endosperm and embryo

Note: The germination of seeds consists of three stages- water imbibition, laf phase and emergence of radicle. When water is imbibed by the coat which depends upon the permeability of the seed coat, the seed coat ruptures following which the radicle emerges out of the soil and develops into the mature plant.