In monocot seeds there is a structure called endosperm which stores food for embryo .Cotyledon takes food from the endosperm and provides it to embryo.The dicot seeds store their food in cotyledons.
Flowering plants, or angiosperms, fall into two classes, based on the number of cotyledons, or seed leaves, within their seeds. For monocotyledons, also called monocots, seeds contain only one cotyledon. In contrast, dicotyledons or dicots hold two cotyledons in their seeds. These cotyledons are the first leaves of a seedling and serve to absorb nutrients in the endosperm, or food storage of the seed. They are not used for photosynthesis.
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Monocot seeds contain one cotyledon, or seed leaf, whereas dicot seeds contain two cotyledons. While initial seed germination processes are similar in both monocots and dicots, there are some fundamental differences.
Differences Between Monocots and Dicots
Monocots and dicots differ morphologically. Monocot pollen possesses a single furrow in its outer layer, parts such as stamens and petals are in multiples of three, leaf veins are parallel, the vascular strands are scattered in the stem, roots are adventitious (arise from the plant stem) and there is no secondary growth such as wood or bark. Monocot examples include onions and grasses.
A dicot’s two cotyledons serve as nutrient storage and occupy a large amount of the seed’s volume. Dicot pollen has three furrows, flower parts are in multiples of four or five, leaf veins are branched, vascular bundles are situated in a cylinder in their stems, roots form from a radicle and taproot system, and they usually exhibit secondary growth. Dicot examples include legumes and hardwood trees.
Seed Germination Requirements
Both monocot and dicot seeds require similar conditions for seed germination. Their seeds must be fully developed, with an embryo, endosperm, appropriate number of cotyledons and a coating (testa). The cotyledons and endosperm will support the growing plant as a food source until photosynthesis begins. Seed germination requires optimal environmental conditions to germinate. Temperatures must be warm enough so seeds can germinate, but not so hot as to damage the seed. Temperatures cannot cold enough to damage or initiate dormancy in the seed. Moisture in the soil contributes to a seed’s germination, as does a need for oxygen and carbon dioxide. Different species require different light conditions to aid germination until seedlings are exposed to necessary sunlight.