Plant Development: From Seed Germination to Plant Growth

4 days ago

In this video I go over plant development which is governed by environmental signals and internal biological factors such as receptors, hormones, and the plant's genome. Development starts with a seed, which can be dormant for many weeks, months, years, and even centuries. Dormancy is broken once germination starts, which starts with imbibition as water is absorbed by the seed. The seed then undergoes metabolic changes whereby enzymes are activated and RNA and proteins are synthesized. Plant growth is done via meristems, which start off as undifferentiated cells capable of cell division and can develop into all the other tissues and organs in plants. Plants typically have both a primary growth period which grows in length and a secondary growth period which grows laterally in girth. Unlike animals, plants grow indefinitely and can grow throughout their life.

Time stamps:

Plant development is regulated by environmental signals and the plant's own receptors, hormones, and genome: 0:00
Tunica-Corpus model of the apical meristem or growing tip: 1:07
Plant development begins with a seed, which can be dormant for even centuries: 2:58
Sunflower plant development timelapse: 5:12
Comparison of a monocot (single leaf) and dicot (two leaf) species sprouting: 8:42
Diagram of a wheat kernel or seed: 11:19
Cereal is any grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain, composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran: 13:28
Plant growth is indeterminate and can be lifelong: 15:10
Comparison of plant primary and secondary growth: 16:40
Diagram of three primary meristems: protoderm, ground meristem, and procambium: 18:08
Cross section of a celery stalk showing vascular bundles, which includes both phloem and xylem: 19:22
Diagram of a plant cross section showing the xylem, phloem (vascular tissue), round tissue, and dermal tissue (epidermis): 23:03