Section 6: Germination the Vital Phase

In a fresh seed, the nutrient reserve is a rich, moist gel surrounding the embryo. As the seed dries, it hardens into a shape suitable for storage, and the nutrient reserve hardens too. Later, when the seed is moistened, the nutrient turns back into a liquid gel that nourishes the roots and stem until it sprouts leaves that can feed the plant. This process is easily observed in sweet corn, which is soft when fresh, but the corn hardens as it dries out. As fresh corn dries, its sugar turns into starch. But when moistened, this starch turns back into sugar. The seed needs water to undergo this chemical change.

As described in the previous section, the first phase of development of a seed into a plant is its transportation. Then the germination begins. When a seed has matured, it usually does not germinate immediately, for in order to germinate, several different factors must come together at the same time. The right levels of heat, moisture and oxygen are necessary. If any one of these conditions is missing, the germination process stops. But when all these conditions are present, the quiescent seed comes to life.

For germination of a seed, the prime requirement is water. This is because there is no water in a mature seed’s embryo and there must be a moist environment in the cells for metabolism to be activated and for growth to take place. Moreover, water makes the enzymes necessary for growth more effective. When the seeds take in water and metabolic activity begins, the roots and shoots start to grow, and cell division takes place. Cells differentiate in order for specific functions to be carried out by specialized tissues.⁵¹

At this stage, oxygen becomes imperative. With respiration, the seed starts to produce from the nutrients it contains the heat and energy it needs to form new parts of the growing plant. The appropriate temperature, on the other hand, enables the enzymes to function at maximum speed.⁵²

Nutrients are required for the seed to grow, but it doesn’t yet have a source it can draw on until it is ready to take in minerals through its roots. So how does the seed find the nutrients it needs to develop?

The answer to this question is hidden inside the seed. As has been detailed in previous sections, the reserve of nutrients that develops during the pollination process is used by the seed until its shoot emerges out of the earth. Until seedlings grow leaves capable of making their own food supply and roots to absorb nutrients from the soil, they are dependent on these nutrients stored within their structure.

(a)When the seed absorbs water, gibberellin (GA), a growth-regulating hormone, is released from embryo into endosperm. (b) Production of digestive enzymes begins. (c) Enzymes break down starch and other molecules in endosperm, releasing soluble nutrients, which the cotyledon absorbs. (d) The absorbed nutrients are delivered to the shoot and root. The first foliage leaf emerges. (e) By the time storage reserves are depleted, the first foliage leaf has expanded and begun photosynthesis. (Solomon, Berg, Martin, Villie, Biology, p. 768.)

Seeds Awakening from the Dormant Phase

Due to the stimulation of gravity, a plant's roots grow quickly down into the earth. The tips of the roots are formed from the meristem tissue, which is capable of swift division for growth. This tissue is protected by a cap (calyptra) consisting of parenchyma cells that produce a substance called mucilage, easing the passage of the roots into the earth while speeding up the absorption of certain ions from the earth. New cells formed by the division of the meristem tissue allow the roots to lengthen. In addition, these cells diversify as they mature, taking on the roles of transportation, storage or epidermal cells, depending on their location. (Ozet, Arpacı, Biology 3, p. 48.) a)mature root b)calyptra c)cell growth d)absorbing root hair e)çekirdek f)apikal meristem g)koleoptil 1)epidermis 2)parenchyma 3)endodermis 4)pericycle 5)phloem f)apical meristem g)coleoptile.

When the conditions mentioned above prevail simultaneously, certain chemical processes take place within the seed. As mentioned above, before germination the seed is in a dormant state. The embryo remains dormant by the action of certain plant hormones, the most important of which is abscisic acid. The seed coat is dense and tough enough to prevent gas penetration and to restrict the activities of the embryo, which is another reason why it remains dormant. But when the seed gets water, its coat swells. Enzymes in the cells of the embryo are activated, producing a new hormone called gibberellin that counteracts the abscisic acid maintaining the dormant state. Once the effect of this acid is neutralized, the digestive enzyme alpha-amylase comes into play, breaking down the starch stored in the endosperm, making it available to the young plant as sugar and thus creating the energy necessary for cell division.⁵³

When people plant a seed in the ground, they generally know nothing about these processes. A few days later when the seed germinates and begins to develop into a plant, they see it as a natural process, even though the processes are extremely complex. Once the right conditions are created, a sequence of chemical operations is performed: One enzyme acts on another to transform the seed into a plant. Thinking a little more deeply about these perfect systems, you will come face to face with the great fact of creation. If one component is missing, the others cannot be activated. It is obvious that such intricate systems cannot be the product of pure coincidence. Moreover, this perfect system doesn’t end with germination, but continues with even more miraculous processes.

When the seed starts germinating, it draws water from the earth, and the embryo cells start dividing. Then the seed coat opens. Little roots, the first outward sign of the plant’s root system, emerge and grow down into the earth. As the roots grow bigger, the earth starts to restrict them. But although subjected to extreme pressure, they are not damaged, since the newly forming cells at the tips of the roots are constantly active and provide protection as the root moves through the hard earth particles. The cells behind this protective layer (calyptra) have the ability to divide very swiftly and let the root grow by up to 11 cm a day. The roots branch as they develop, providing a greater surface area to take in water, while serving to anchor the plant more firmly in the earth. In addition, the tiny root hairs play an important role in increasing the plant’s capacity to draw essential minerals from the earth.⁵⁴

The development of the roots is followed by the small buds that will produce the leaves. The seed is directed towards the light and constantly gains strength. When the shoot appears above ground and unfolds out its first foliage leaves, it starts to produce its own nutrients through photosynthesis.

What we have explained so far is common knowledge. Everyone has observed seeds come up. But in reality, a miracle happens when a seed weighing only a few grams has no difficulty in pushing its way up through a great weight of soil. The seed’s only aim is to reach the sunlight above. It is as though the slender stems of newly germinating plants are moving freely in an empty space rather than gradually making their way through something heavy, towards the light of day.

Trials have been conducted into blocking the seed’s access to the light by various means, with really surprising results. The seed manages to get to the light by putting out long shoots around obstacles in its path or by applying pressure from its growing tip. A seed’s sense of direction and determination to reach the light can be understood more easily by watching a time-lapse film version of its germination.

During germination, rapid cell division takes place, accompanied by rapid and increased absorption of water. Germination releases an energy against the normal air pressure. This energy is so powerful that it is equivalent to approximately 100 times air pressure. This gives young shoots the power to crack rocks and walls made of concrete. (Grains de Vie, p. 82.)

Since germinating seeds aim to reach the light, seedlings always move with the intent of surfacing above the soil. But a germinating seed’s growth takes place in two directions. While the sprout grows upwards, against gravity, the taproot delves down into the earth.

It’s really thought-provoking that two portions of the same plant can grow in completely opposite directions. How do both the sprout and roots know which direction to grow in?

The stimuli that direct a plant’s growth are light and gravity. In the emerging roots of a germinating seed are cells that can sense gravity, and there are light-sensitive cells in the upward-growing shoot. Due to these cells’ sensitivity, parts of the plant are guided in the right direction. These two guidance systems also ensure that if the roots and the shoot must progress in a horizontal direction, their direction is corrected as soon as possible.⁵⁵

There is another interesting aspect to germinating seeds. Soil bacteria have the capacity to rot and break down organic matter, yet seeds and roots no more than half a millimeter in breadth are not damaged at all. On the contrary, they use the soil to maintain constant development and growth.

Nothing can stop seeds from reaching the light of day. As they grow, plants can exert great pressure. For instance, some seedlings can extend the cracks in a newly made road.

Reviewing the information given so far, we face an extraordinary situation. The cells making up a seed suddenly start to differentiate into different forms to create different parts of the plant. Think a little more objectively about the root’s growth towards the earth and the shoot’s growth against gravity towards the surface. That these seemingly frail structures move in two different directions suggests that this must be a time of a very important decision.

Who or what determines the time when the cells start to differentiate? And who or what shows them which direction to go in?

How does every cell act according to which part of the plant it will grow to be?

There is never any confusion of which direction the cells grow – for instance, why don’t the roots try to grow out of the soil, instead of down into the earth?

To questions like these, there is only one answer. Naturally the plant itself doesn’t make and implement these decisions, or set up the systems necessary to avoid confusion. Nor are the cells that compose the plant able to do this. A cell can’t predict and decide, or consciously perceive light or gravity. Even with the intervention of another living being such intelligent systems could not be developed. For instance, if told to create a plant cell sensitive to gravity, even the world’s foremost botanist could not perform such a task.

All of this shows us that plants are created and directed by a Power with superior knowledge.

That is, a Being of supreme intelligence makes these decisions for the cells, creates all their structures, and shows them the direction they must go in to carry out their functions. This supreme intelligence is no other than God, Lord of the worlds.

He creates a wonderful variety of plants from seeds that resemble lifeless pieces of wood and with these plants, gives life to the Earth:

We sent down a measured amount of water from heaven and lodged it firmly in the earth; and We are well able to remove it. By means of it We produce gardens of dates and grapes for you, in which there are many fruits for you and from which you eat. (Qur’an, 23:18-19)

Stages of germination in the hyacinth. In all the germinating plants in the world, these processes are carried out to perfection. All hormones and enzymes are secreted without omission, or else germination could not take place. Accordingly it's not possible to claim that germination is coincidental. Every stage of the process occurs with the knowledge, and under the control, of God.

During germination, roots grow down into the soil while the shoot grows up into the sunlight.

The Determination of Shoots

Different stages in the growth of an acorn. The seeds (upper left)start to germinate shortly after reaching the ground. The seedling in the picture below will in time grow into a great oak tree, as in the picture to the right.

A great deal of force is required for the root and shoot of a germinating seed to break open the seed and drive their way through the soil. The power of plant growth is better understood when you know that seedlings are capable of cracking and breaking through an asphalt road.

The source of this force is the hydraulic pressure that builds up inside every plant’s cells. These pressures, essential for the plant’s growth, stretch the cell walls. Were it not for this effect, cell enlargement in the plant would not be possible, and seeds would not be able to germinate.⁵⁶

After using such force to emerge from the soil, the seedling does not always find an appropriate environment. As already explained, if any object blocks the sunlight, the plant has difficulty in photosynthesizing and consequently cannot grow. For this reason, every emerging shoot will bend toward light as soon as it reaches the surface. This process is called phototropism, the light-sensitive direction-finding system in plants.⁵⁷

If you put houseplants in a dark place or somewhere that receives light from only one direction, after a while you will see that they turn towards the light, reaching out with their leaves or even twisting into that direction. It’s very thought-provoking that a seedling can determine the direction of light and then turn in that direction. But plants are able to do this with ease, because compared to animals or humans, plants are much better in their capacity to sense the direction of light, which we can only do with our eyes. Plants, on the other hand, never get confused about direction.

He is God – the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of Form. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Everything in the heavens and Earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Qur'an, 59:24)

Germination is the first stage in the development of a tiny plant that can grow to be meters in height and tons in weight. As it grows and its roots extend into the ground and its branches into the air, its internal systems (alimentary, pollination, the hormones that regulate and halt the plant’s growth) all operate simultaneously, with no hitch or delay in any of them. Everything the plant needs develops at the same time – a very important detail. For instance, while the plant’s pollination system is developing, so is its distribution network of nutrient and water channels. Otherwise, if a tree’s pollination system failed to develop, its inner bark used to carry water and nutrients would have no significance. And there would also be no point in the roots’ development, since the ancillary mechanisms would have no function given that the species would not survive.

However, there are no such hitches. Everything develops just the way it should, and at the time it should.

There is an evident plan behind this perfect structure of plants, all of whose elements are interdependent and compatible, that cannot have developed by chance. As in all other living things, there is absolutely no question of a gradual development in plants, as evolutionary scientists claim.

The perfect order in the processes that we’ve examined here is evidence of a Creator Who accomplishes every minute detail. Even the formation of the seed, the very first stage of plant life, is enough to demonstrate the incomparable wonder of God’s creation.

The sunflower is one of the best examples of plants that turn toward the sun. Above: The movements of a sunflower throughout one day as it follows the sun.

As the shoot breaks through the seed coat, it accomplishes a very difficult task. A soft little shoot has no problem bursting free from the confines of the tough seed coat of a cherry or hazelnut, that we can manage to break only with a hard blow. The task is made easier by such factors as the softening of the seed coat when the seed takes in water and increased pressure inside the seed. It is God Who creates them together with these features.

When the seeds protected inside the pinecones at left reach the ground, the germination processes are set in motion. From these little seeds, magnificent pine trees will eventually grow.

Examples of the seedlings of various plants. Day by day, these feeble little shoots will grow into great trees – an incredible change brought about by the knowledge that God installs in seeds.

God, there is no deity but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and the Earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the Earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (Qur'an, 2:255) The transformation of little shoots that grow up through cracks in the soil into great trees illustrates many points for those who use their intelligence. All thoughtful people can see God's magnificent art everywhere they look.