Germination is the process by which a new plant develops from a seed. It is a slow biological process that requires certain environmental conditions to trigger the seed to grow. The complete process of seed germination involves the following steps:

• Imbibition: During the beginning stage of germination, the seeds take up water rapidly, resulting in swelling and softening of the seed coat at an optimum temperature. This stage is referred to as imbibition, which starts the growth process by activation of enzymes.

• Lag phase: The seed activates its internal physiology and starts to respire and produce proteins and metabolizes the stored food. This is a lag phase of seed germination.

• Emergence of radicle: The radicle is the first part of the seedling to emerge from the seed. It is the embryonic root of the plant.

• Emergence of plumule: The plumule is the embryonic shoot of the plant that emerges from the seed after the radicle.

There are two types of germination: hypogeal and epigeal. In hypogeal germination, the epicotyl grows first, and the cotyledons remain underground. In epigeal germination, the hypocotyl grows first, pushing up the cotyledons to the soil surface.

In conclusion, germination is the process by which a new plant develops from a seed, and it involves the emergence of the radicle and plumule. There are two types of germination: hypogeal and epigeal.