NDA (I) 2021 GAT Q94: During seed germination, the part of the embryo which grows

Q: What is the answer to NDA (I) 2021 GAT Q94?

A. Correct — A, Radicle. In a germinating seed the embryo has two growing ends. The radicle is the embryonic root — it is the first structure to emerge, growing downward into the soil to anchor the seedling and absorb water. The plumule, at the other end, grows upward into the shoot. So the part that becomes the root is the radicle.

NDA (I) 2021 General Ability Test · Question 94 of 149

Question text verified against the official NDA question paper.

During seed germination, the part of the embryo which grows into root is

(a)Radicle.
(b)Plumule.
(c)Cotyledon.
(d)Epicotyl.

Answer

Why

Correct — A, Radicle. In a germinating seed the embryo has two growing ends. The radicle is the embryonic root — it is the first structure to emerge, growing downward into the soil to anchor the seedling and absorb water. The plumule, at the other end, grows upward into the shoot. So the part that becomes the root is the radicle.

Why the others are wrong

(b)Plumule. — The plumule is the embryonic shoot; it grows upward to form the stem and leaves, not the root.
(c)Cotyledon. — The cotyledon is the seed leaf that stores or transfers food to the growing embryo; it is not the part that develops into the root.
(d)Epicotyl. — The epicotyl is the region of the embryo axis above the cotyledons that grows into the upper shoot; the root arises below, from the radicle.

Concept

A seed embryo consists of an embryonic axis (radicle at one end, plumule at the other) attached to one or two cotyledons. On germination the radicle emerges first and develops into the root system, while the plumule develops into the shoot. The cotyledons supply stored food until the seedling can photosynthesise.

Anchor the pairing: radicle → root (both begin with 'r', and the radicle heads downward), plumule → shoot. Epicotyl and hypocotyl are regions of the axis defined relative to the cotyledons, not the root itself.

Key facts

Radicle = embryonic root; it emerges first and grows downward.
Plumule = embryonic shoot; it grows upward into stem and leaves.
Cotyledons are seed leaves that store or transfer food to the embryo.
Germination is triggered by water, oxygen and a suitable temperature.

Stages of a germinating pea seed, the white radicle (embryonic root) emerging first and growing into roots — The first structure to emerge during germination is the radicle, which develops into the root.Image: Noahjgagne · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Study next

Structure of a seed: radicle, plumule, cotyledon and seed coatConditions required for germination (water, oxygen, temperature)Monocot versus dicot seeds and their germinationEpigeal and hypogeal germination

Common traps

Swapping radicle and plumule — the radicle makes the root, the plumule the shoot.
Confusing the cotyledon (food store) with a growing root or shoot.

Asked as 'which embryo part becomes the root/shoot' or by labelling the parts of a germinating seed.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
During germination, the plumule of the embryo develops into the
- (a)root
- (b)shoot
- (c)seed coat
- (d)cotyledon
Answer(b) shoot — the plumule grows upward into the stem and leaves.
practice — not a real PYQ
Which one of the following stores food in a seed for the developing embryo?
- (a)Radicle
- (b)Plumule
- (c)Cotyledon
- (d)Micropyle
Answer(c) Cotyledon — the seed leaf that stores or transfers nutrients to the embryo.