Seed Coat Germination Project

The seed coat plays an important role in the growth, germination, and protection of the seed. In some plants, there is some evidence that the seed coat might inhibit the seed’s germination. Our study investigated whether the removal of the seed coat impacted the seed germination time. 

We studied 6 species:

• Whole green peas

• Barley

• Chickpeas

• Pinto beans 

• Baby lima beans 

• Green split beans

• Their seed coats were removed using an exacto knife and soaked in water for 1 hour. The seeds were then divided into groups, including the unremoved coat, which is the control. Finally, the seeds were checked every 12 hours and the state of the seeds was recorded.

A graph showing the germination of half the seeds over time shows that many seeds germinated slower without a coating. Time When Over Half of the Seeds Germinated. Comparison of the time when half of the seeds germinated. For barley, baby lima beans, and green split beans, intact seed coats germinated faster. Possible future experiments may lead towards figuring out how optimal germination rates vary by seed species.