Question

Describe the various ways by which seeds are dispersed.

Answer 1

Seed dispersal is that the movement, unfold or transport of seeds off from the parent plant. Plants have restricted quality and rely on a range of spreading vectors to move their propagules, together with each abiotic vector like the wind and living (biotic) vectors like birds.

Complete answer:
Seeds are often spread off from the parent plant separately or conjointly, additionally as spread in each house and time. The patterns of seed spreading are determined in massive amounts by the spreading mechanism and this has vital implications for the demographic and genetic structure of plant populations, additionally as migration patterns and species interactions. There area unit 5 main modes of seed dispersal: gravity, wind, ballistic, water, and by animals. Some plants are unit serotinous associates that solely disperse their seeds in response to environmental information. spreading involves the lease go or detachment of a diaspore from the most parent plant.

dispersal by wind- The seeds that are unit sometimes smaller in size or that have wings or hair like structures get spread by wind to far places. Examples- helianthus, drumstick, maple, etc.
dispersal by water- Fruits or seeds that develop floating ability within the kind of spongy or fibrous coat area unit over excited by water to totally different places. Example- coconut.
dispersal by detonating or explosion - Seeds get spread by the bursting of fruits with unforeseen jerks. Examples- balsam, castor, etc.
dispersal by animals and birds- setaceous seeds get connected to the body of animals and birds and area units carried to new sites by them. Some fruits have hooks that clutch the fur or garments. Examples- mango, xanthium, etc.
Gravity dispersal: As the fruits fall on the ground from the tree due to the force discovered by Newton and commonly called as force of gravity, they seldom and solitary roll down to some smaller distance, get buried and decompose in the soil and germinate into a new plant. Example: Apples, canna, coconuts, passion fruit.

Note: Seed dispersal is very important and crucial for the survival chances and also for the better adaptability of the plant. It can be beneficial mainly in preventing the seed from density-dependent seedling mortality, i.e. death due to overcrowding and also to find places with better conditions and adaptations .