Figure 1
Introduction Germination is the process in which seeds, spores and buds develop into trees, plants fungi etc. This process requires a large amount of energy. Carbohydrates, lipids, and other organic molecules are stored in the seed. These compounds are broken down into glucose, and then, through cellular respiration, glucose is further broken down, releasing the necessary energy. During respiration, oxygen is consumed while CO 2 is produced. Respiration rates of dry seeds are very low. Addition of water to dry seeds increases their water content. In swollen seeds respiration accelerates, thereby increasing the rate of CO 2 release as well. When roots and shoots start to develop, the rate of oxygen consumption stabilizes. It increases again as the young sprout continues to grow and the root and shoot elongate. In this experiment we use a CO2 Sensor to compare amounts of CO2 released during respiration in swollen, dry, and germinating pea seeds.