Seed Viability and Dormancy — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptHow long do the seeds remain alive after they are dispersed? This period again varies greatly. In a few species the seeds lose viability within a few months. Seeds of a large number of species live for several years. Some seeds can remain alive for hundreds of years. There are several records of very old yet viable seeds. The oldest is that of a lupine, Lupinus arcticus excavated from Arctic Tundra. The seed germinated and flowered after an estimated record of 10,000 years of dormancy. A recent record of 2000 years old viable seed is of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera discovered during the archeological excavation at King Herod's palace near the Dead Sea.
Which of the following statements regarding pollen grains and their properties are correct? S1. The hard outer layer of pollen grain, exine, is composed of sporopollenin, which is resistant to enzymes, high temperatures, strong acids, and alkalis. S2. Pollen grains are considered to be rich in nutrients and are marketed as food supplements, particularly in Western countries, for enhancing performance in athletes. S3. Pollen viability is highly uniform across different plant species and generally persists for several months regardless of environmental conditions. S4. Pollen of cereals like rice and wheat typically lose viability within approximately 30 minutes of their release. S5. Pollen grains can be stored for years in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, a method used in pollen banks for crop breeding programmes.
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