@Arunan @Theertha @2020ugchsncnseethala @KiranKalakotiR @nidhi @Susanta_Tanti @Himanshu @Akantidas @Enas_188
Topic :
Mustard Seed Germination — Sailekshmi’s Homelab, 9th September 2024
Objective :
To identify the most effective method for mustard seed germination by comparing:
— Soaking seeds in water (Method B)
– Placing seeds on moist tissue paper (Method A)
Experimental Setup :
Group A ( Tissue Paper ):
15 seeds placed on moist tissue paper.
Result : 10/15 seeds germinated (≈ 66.6%)
Group B ( Water Soaking ):
15 seeds soaked directly in water.
Result : 5/15 seeds germinated (≈ 33.3%)
Interestingly, Susanta expected equal germination (10/15) for both conditions.
Concept Introduced :
Seed Dormancy — the temporary suspension of growth despite favorable conditions. Factors discussed that influence germination include:
Seed coat permeability
Water availability
Aeration
Temperature
These factors potentially explain the lower success in Method B ( water ) compared to Method A ( moist tissue ), highlighting that full immersion may reduce oxygen availability, affecting early growth.
Expansion Plan: Seed Germination in Cardamine
As a next step, participants planned to test seed germination in various other species to observe comparative responses:
-
Mustard seeds
-
Moong seeds
-
Green peas
-
Fenugreek ( Methi )
-
Wheat & Rice
These will help generalize findings across seed types and assess if germination responses are species-specific or method-dependent.
Follow-up Questions for Further Discussion :
- Experimental Design :
Was water changed or aerated regularly in Group B to address oxygen limitation?
Were environmental variables like temperature and light controlled or monitored?
- Seed Dormancy Exploration :
Could differences in seed coat hardness or chemical inhibitors be contributing to lower germination in water?
Should we consider pre-treatments like scarification or chilling for hard-coated seeds?
- Germination Criteria :
How was " germination " defined in this experiment? ( e.g., radicle emergence length )
- Cross-species Extension :
How might larger seeds like peas and wheat respond differently to moisture availability compared to mustard?
Will a common setup be used for all species, or will modifications be made for seed size and structure?
- Scientific Reasoning :
What role does oxygen diffusion play in seed germination when seeds are submerged?
Can we simulate natural germination conditions more accurately for each seed type?
Reference 
