Question

Tomato seeds will not germinate in the fruit and must be extracted and cleaned in order for them to germinate because of inhibitors in the flesh of the fruit. What is the advantage of this?

a) to assure germination in the spring only
b) acts as a rain gauge
c) prevents vivipary
d) measures depth of planting
e) spreads germination over more than one growing season

Answer 1

Tomato seeds' innate dormancy and germination inhibitors prevent vivipary, ensuring seeds germinate only in favorable conditions, a process facilitated by treatments like scarification and vernalization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The advantage of tomato seed dormancy, where germination is inhibited within the flesh of the fruit, is primarily to prevent vivipary (c), which is the premature germination of seeds within the fruit. This mechanism ensures that seeds do not start to grow while still inside the fruit, which would not only be detrimental to the seeds but also to the parent plant.

Germination inhibitors within the fruit flesh make sure that the seeds only germinate once they are in an environment conducive to sustaining growth, such as correct temperature, moisture, and light conditions. By undergoing a period of dormancy, seeds can remain viable during unfavorable conditions and wait until the arrival of a suitable germination period, typically in spring. This dormancy period can be broken when seeds experience external treatments, such as scarification or exposure to certain temperature and moisture conditions, similar to vernalization.