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Mrs Ps extra set of cards > Part 1 > Flashcards

Part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are cereals?

A

Cereals are grasses cultivated for their edible seeds and are a vital source of food, particularly for humans.

They are the world’s largest crops.

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2
Q

List common examples of cereals.

A
  • Wheat
  • Rice
  • Maize (corn)
  • Barley
  • Oats
  • Rye
  • Millet
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3
Q

What nutrients do cereals provide?

A
  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Oils
  • Dietary fibre
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4
Q

What role do cereals play in global food security?

A

Cereals provide a significant portion of the world’s calorie intake and are also used as feed for livestock.

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5
Q

What are the uses of cereals beyond food and feed?

A

Cereals can be used in the production of starch, biofuel, and other industrial products.

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6
Q

What are proteins in seeds used for?

A
  • Nitrogen storage
  • Reserves of amino acids
  • Structural integrity
  • Storage enzymes (e.g., amylase, lipase)
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7
Q

What is the purpose of protein storage in seeds?

A
  • Energy for germination
  • Building blocks for growth
  • Survival during dormancy
  • Protection and stability
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8
Q

What vitamins are found in cereals?

A
  • Vitamin B (including folate)
  • Vitamin E
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9
Q

What minerals are commonly found in cereals?

A
  • Magnesium
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • Phosphorus
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10
Q

What is the structure of a cereal grain?

A
  • Embryo
  • Endosperm
  • Aleurone layer
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11
Q

What is the role of the endosperm in cereal grains?

A

The endosperm serves as a starch-containing energy store surrounding the embryo.

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12
Q

What is the function of the aleurone layer?

A

The aleurone layer synthesizes and secretes enzymes that mobilize nutrients for the growing embryo.

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13
Q

Define seed dormancy.

A

Seed dormancy is a state in which a seed remains inactive and does not germinate, even under favourable environmental conditions.

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14
Q

What are the two types of seed dormancy?

A
  • Physiological Dormancy
  • Physical Dormancy
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15
Q

What characterizes physiological dormancy?

A

The seed is metabolically active but requires specific physiological processes or conditions to germinate.

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16
Q

What characterizes physical dormancy?

A

A hard testa that prevents water and gases from entering the seed necessary for germination.

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17
Q

What is the significance of seed dormancy?

A
  • Prevents premature germination
  • Ensures favorable conditions for germination
  • Allows for seed dispersal
18
Q

What triggers the germination process?

A

The uptake of water by imbibition.

19
Q

Describe the phases of water uptake during germination.

A
  • Rapid initial uptake (imbibition)
  • Plateau phase
  • Further increase in water uptake
20
Q

What hormone stimulates germination in barley seeds?

A

Gibberellins.

21
Q

What is the role of gibberellins in germination?

A

Gibberellins stimulate the release of amylase from the aleurone layer into the endosperm.

22
Q

What is the function of the radicle?

A

The radicle is the embryonic root that grows downwards to anchor the plant and begin absorbing water and nutrients.

23
Q

What does the hypocotyl connect?

A

The hypocotyl connects the radicle to the plumule.

24
Q

What is the plumule?

A

The first structure to emerge above ground during germination, developing into the primary shoot of the plant.

25
What is the epicotyl?
The region of the embryo above the stalks of the cotyledons that will develop into the plant’s stem and leaves.
26
What is the hilum?
The scar left on the seed where it was attached to the ovary.
27
What is the micropyle?
A small opening in the seed coat that allows water to enter and is where the pollen tube enters during fertilization.
28
What is the first structure to emerge from a seed during germination?
The radicle ## Footnote The radicle grows downward into the soil and responds to gravity.
29
What is the hypocotyl?
The first structure to appear above ground, a curved portion of the plant shoot below the cotyledons ## Footnote The hypocotyl grows upwards as the shoot develops.
30
What is the role of water in seed germination?
Water breaks dormancy by: * Softening the testa * Mobilising food reserves * Hydrolysing macromolecules * Acting as a solvent for biochemical reactions * Activating enzymes * Washing out growth inhibitors * Allowing gibberellin to promote germination * Causing cells to swell for cell elongation * Resulting in testa rupture
31
What temperature conditions are optimal for seed germination?
Increased metabolic rate and optimal temperature for enzyme activity ## Footnote This facilitates digestion of food reserves for respiration and growth.
32
What is the importance of oxygen during seed germination?
Oxygen is required for aerobic respiration to produce ATP ## Footnote It acts as the final hydrogen and electron acceptor for energy release.
33
What is imbibition?
The process by which a seed absorbs water, leading to rehydration and metabolic activation ## Footnote It involves a special type of diffusion without solution formation.
34
What is the lowest taxonomic rank in the biological classification system?
Species ## Footnote Species can be grouped into genera, which can further be grouped into higher taxonomic ranks.
35
What are the processes that can break seed dormancy?
1. Imbibition 2. Cold stratification 3. Heat or fire 4. Light exposure 5. Mechanical scarification
36
What is the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in seed germination?
ABA inhibits germination by: * Inhibiting amylase production * Inhibiting protease activity * Regulating enzyme activity through ABA receptors * Inhibiting cell wall degradation * Blocking gibberellin synthesis
37
What are gibberellins (GA)?
A group of plant hormones that regulate growth and development processes ## Footnote They stimulate cell division and are involved in germination, dormancy, and flowering.
38
How do gibberellins affect seed germination?
They activate the α-amylase gene, leading to starch hydrolysis ## Footnote This promotes the breakdown of starch into sugars necessary for growth.
39
What is a metabolic pathway?
A series of enzyme-catalysed reactions involving chemical changes within a cell ## Footnote Metabolic pathways can be linear or cyclical.
40
What are catabolic reactions?
Reactions that break large molecules into smaller ones, are exergonic, and usually involve hydrolysis ## Footnote They release energy.
41
What are anabolic reactions?
Reactions that join smaller molecules to form larger products, are endergonic, and usually involve condensation ## Footnote They require an energy input, typically from ATP.
42
What is the definition of imbibition in seeds?
Imbibition refers to the initial uptake of water, leading to rehydration and swelling ## Footnote It initiates metabolic processes critical for germination.

Mrs Ps extra set of cards (2 decks)

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