Evaluate the following statements regarding seeds. Select True or False for each statement. T/F They contain an embryo. T/F They contain nutritive tissue for the embryo. T/F They consist entirely of diploid cells. T/F They are also referred to as spores.

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1. True. Seeds indeed contain an embryo, which is a young plant enclosed within a protective outer covering.
2. True. Seeds contain nutritive tissue, such as endosperm, which provides food to the developing embryo.
3. False. Seeds consist of both diploid cells (such as the embryo) and haploid cells (such as the endosperm in many seeds, which is triploid after fertilization).
4. False. Seeds and spores are different; seeds are the product of the sexual reproduction of higher plants, containing an embryo and nutritive tissue, while spores are typically a product of asexual reproduction and do not contain an embryo.

Key Concepts

Seed Structure

Seeds are complex structures that contain an embryo, which is the young plant in its earliest stage of development. The embryo is surrounded by nutritive tissue, often referred to as endosperm, which provides essential nutrients for the embryo's growth until it can photosynthesize independently.

Diploidy in Seeds

Most seeds consist of diploid cells, which means they contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. However, the endosperm tissue is typically triploid, resulting from the fusion of a sperm cell with two polar nuclei during fertilization, which is crucial for providing nourishment to the developing embryo.

Difference Between Seeds and Spores

Seeds and spores are both reproductive structures, but they differ significantly. Seeds are multicellular and contain an embryo and stored food, while spores are unicellular and do not contain an embryo. Spores are typically produced by non-flowering plants and fungi, whereas seeds are produced by flowering plants and gymnosperms.