A baby plant, commonly referred to as a seedling, represents the crucial initial stage of plant development after sprouting from a seed. While dormant within the seed, the baby plant, or embryo, is primarily protected and nourished by stored food reserves. However, once it emerges and begins its independent life, its functions become active and vital for survival and growth.
Based on available information, the primary function of a baby plant after it sprouts from a seed is the absorption of essential resources.
Key Function: Absorption of Water and Nutrients
According to provided information, a baby plant, also known as a seedling, is defined as a young plant that has just sprouted from a seed. One of the main functions identified for this stage is:
- Absorption of water and nutrients: Baby plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil through their roots, which helps them grow and develop.
This absorption process is fundamental. As the seedling develops roots, it anchors itself in the soil and begins to draw up the necessary water and dissolved minerals required for photosynthesis and structural development.
The Transition from Seed to Seedling
Inside the seed, the embryo relies on cotyledons or endosperm for stored energy. Once conditions are right (sufficient water, temperature, oxygen), the seed germinates. The radical (embryonic root) is usually the first part to emerge, seeking water and providing stability. The hypocotyl or epicotyl then pushes upwards, carrying the cotyledons and/or the plumule (embryonic shoot) towards the light.
It is at this point, as the seedling establishes roots in the soil and unfurls leaves, that its active function of absorbing water and nutrients from the environment begins in earnest, enabling its growth into a mature plant.
Therefore, while the baby plant (embryo) within the seed is in a state of dormancy, its primary function after sprouting as a seedling is to actively absorb the resources needed to grow independently.
