Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Seeds and Oxygen 
Name: ahmed
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: AZ
Country: N/A
Date: 4/8/2005
Question:
Germinating pea seeds can live just a short time without oxygen. How this might be possible?. Why is it that seeds cannot live indefinitely without oxygen?

Replies:
Dormant seeds would not require respiration or photosynthesis. As the process of germination begins, presumably, the nutrients stored within the seed itself provide the necessary elements for the newly emerging roots and leaves until the newly emerged tissues can respire and photosynthesize.

The following might be helpful:

http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/homeworkzone.asp?id=255

Anthony Brach Ph.D.


Click here to return to the Botany Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory