Final answer:
During seed germination, barley grains are soaked in water to begin the germination process. This soaking provides the necessary moisture to break the dormancy of the seed, allowing it to swell, break the seed coat, and grow into a new seedling.
Step-by-step explanation:
During seed germination, barley grains are soaked in water to trigger germination. Seed germination is the process by which a seed begins to grow and develop into a new plant.
Many seeds, including barley, enter a period of dormancy when metabolic activity is extremely low to survive unfavorable conditions. The return to favorable conditions, such as moisture, light, and specific temperature, signals the end of dormancy and the start of germination.
For barley, soaking in water provides the necessary moisture to break dormancy and initiate the germination process. During germination, the barley seed absorbs water, which causes it to swell and the seed coat to crack open. Following this, the embryonic plant inside the seed begins to grow and eventually emerges as a new seedling.