Morphology of Monocot seed (rice):

Generally seed contains three distinct parts

1. Seed coat
2. Endosperm
3. Embryo

Embryo consist three parts:

Cotyledons, radical, plumule

1. Seed coat:
It is the brownish membranous layer adherent to the grain. This layer is
made up of the seed coat and the wall of the fruit fused together. The seed coat
is marked by a hilum that represents the point of attachment of the seed to the
ovary wall. In addition a micropyle can be discerned just below the hilum.

2. Endosperm:

Develop from the fusion of polar nuclei and a pollen sperm .Endosperm
forms the main bulk of the grain and is the food storage tissue of it, being laden
with reserve food material, particularly starch .The outer most layer of the
endosperm is called aleurone layer which contain mainly protein

3. Embryo:

Embryo is very small and lies in grove at one end of the endosperm which
is developed from male and female
gametes. It consists of

i) One shield –shaped cotyledon

known as the scutellum

ii) A short axis with

a) The plumule
b) The radical protected by the root
cap.

The plumule is surrounded by minute

leaves or coleoptile and the radical is
surrounded by root sheath or
coleorhizae. Coleoptile and
coleorhizae is protective sheath of the
plumule and the radical.
Morphology of Dicot seed :
1. Seed coat:

Seed coat of dicot seed is blackish or reddish and hard. The seed coat
consists of two layers fused together, the outer one being known as the testa and
the inner one is tegmen.

At one edge of the seed coat there is a whitish, elongated ridge, this ridge is
called the raphe.

At the basal portion of the raphe there is a distinct broad scar , this is
called hilum .Small opening immediately below the hilum ,which is minute but
distinct is called micropyle .

2. Embryo :

After removing the seed coat a freshly portion is seen known as embryo It
consists the following:

Radicle: The tip of the embryo axis towards the micropyler end is called
radicle.

Plumule: The other end of the embryo axis found deeper in between the
cotyledons is plumule.

Funiculus: A stalk of the ovule, containing vascular tissue.

Chalaza: The region a seed at the upper end of the raphe.

Pericarp: Ovary wall develops into pericarp.

Carnucle: A spongy structure, an outgrowth of the outer seed coat.