Question

When seeds are kept in water, they get swelled and increased in size, called
A. Soaking of seeds
B. Resting of seeds
C. Sprouting of seeds
D. None of the above

Answer 1

To make the seeds germinate they are kept soaked in water for prolonged periods, due to which their volume increases. This process of the absorption of the water is known as imbibition. Imbibition plays an important role in seed germination.

Complete step by step answer: When the seeds are kept in the water, they absorb water by the process of imbibition. Due to this, the seeds get swollen.
1. Soaking of seeds: It is the process of keeping the seeds in the water. Due to the imbibition process, these seeds absorb water and increase in size.
2. Resting of seeds: It is the process in which the germination of seeds is prevented because of the inadequate water supply or the metabolic blocks.
3. Sprouting of seeds: It is the process of seed germination. In sprouting the dormancy of the seeds is broken.
Thus, based on the above information when the seeds are kept in water, they get swelled and increased in size, called the soaking of seeds.
Hence, the correct answer is option (A).
Additional Information:
The imbibition is the process of the adsorption and the absorption of the solvent molecules by the colloidal particles without forming any solution. Here the colloidal particles are known as the imbibed and the solvent or the water molecules are known as imbibant. Thus, imbibant are the water molecules adsorbed and absorbed. The effects of imbibition, as seen in plants are as follows –
1. Increase in the volume of the cell due to the absorption of the water.
2. Development of the pressure inside the cell due to excessive water.
3. Release of the heat which is known as the heat of hydration/ heat of wetting.
4. The role of imbibition is in the seed germination in plants.

Note: Sprouting is a natural phenomenon in which the seeds germinate and they develop shoots and roots. The already developed plant sprouts by producing new shoots, buds, or leaves. Hence, sprouting is a mechanism of seed germination. A very common way to induce sprouting is soaking, where the seeds are kept in water and they swell in size.