AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Light is not necessary for a seed to germinate, no. The majority of seeds grow most effectively in the dark.

Detailed explanation-2: -Not all seeds have the same light requirements. Most seeds germinate best under dark conditions and might even be inhibited by light (e.g., Phacelia and Allium spp.). However, some species (e.g., Begonia, Primula, Coleus) need light to germinate (Miles and Brown 2007).

Detailed explanation-3: -Answer: False because every seed may be rotten and if it doesn’t get enough nutrients it will not germinate.

Detailed explanation-4: -Small seeded plants that form soil seed banks for instance, are expected to germinate only in the presence of light, as a mechanism to avoid germinating too deep in the soil where they would deplete seed nutrients before reaching light for photosynthesis (Pons 2000).

Detailed explanation-5: -Some seeds do not need light to germinate. This is because they do not contain chlorophyll in their cells. Therefore, they do not use sunlight for photosynthesis like other plants do but still provide an essential role inside the ecosystem.