Module Category: Nursery Management / Plant Physiology
The Science of Germination
The avocado “pit” is actually a large, single seed containing a significant amount of starch reserves in its cotyledons. This energy store allows the seedling to grow rapidly once the radicle (initial root) and plumule (initial shoot) emerge from the embryo.
Practical Task: Potting Germinated Seeds
Today’s footage documents the transition from seed to seedling. Key scientific steps include:
- Orientation: Identifying the “flat” basal end (where roots emerge) versus the “pointed” apical end (where the shoot emerges).
- Substrate Selection: Using a well-draining, airy medium to mimic the “loose humus” soil these trees prefer in nature.
- Positioning: Planting with at least 1/3 of the seed exposed above the soil line to prevent “collar rot” and allow the stem to harden off naturally