The Seed — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology The Seed MCQs with step-by-step solutions (26 questions). Part of Morphology of Flowering Plants. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — The Seed · easy · theory
The scar left on the seed coat at the point of attachment to the fruit is the:
A. Radicle
B. Hilum ✓ Correct
C. Plumule
D. Micropyle
Solution: The hilum marks the attachment; the micropyle is a small pore above it through which water enters.
Q2 — The Seed · easy · theory
In a dicot seed like gram (pea), the two fleshy structures storing food are the:
A. Scutellum
B. Endosperm
C. Aleurone layer
D. Cotyledons ✓ Correct
Solution: In non-endospermic dicots the cotyledons store food; the embryo axis bears the radicle and plumule.
Q3 — The Seed · medium · theory
In a maize (monocot) grain, the single shield-shaped cotyledon is called the:
A. Scutellum ✓ Correct
B. Coleorhiza
C. Coleoptile
D. Aleurone layer
Solution: The scutellum is the monocot cotyledon; the coleoptile and coleorhiza sheath the plumule and radicle respectively.
Q4 — The Seed · medium · theory
An endospermic (albuminous) seed retains endosperm at maturity. An example is:
A. Bean
B. Castor / maize ✓ Correct
C. Pea
D. Gram
Solution: Castor, maize, wheat and coconut are endospermic; pea, gram and bean are non-endospermic (exalbuminous).
Q5 — The Seed · hard · theory
In a maize grain, the outer proteinaceous layer surrounding the starchy endosperm is the:
A. Pericarp
B. Scutellum
C. Aleurone layer ✓ Correct
D. Testa
Solution: The aleurone layer is a protein-rich outer endosperm layer; the pericarp of the grain is fused to the seed coat.
Q6 — The Seed · hard · theory
The protective sheaths coleoptile and coleorhiza in a monocot seedling cover, respectively, the:
A. Two cotyledons
B. Radicle and plumule
C. Plumule and radicle ✓ Correct
D. Endosperm and embryo
Solution: The coleoptile protects the emerging plumule (shoot) and the coleorhiza the radicle (root).
Q7 — The Seed · easy · numerical
The tiny pore in the seed coat through which water first enters during imbibition and germination is the:
A. Hilum
B. Tegmen
C. Raphe
D. Micropyle ✓ Correct
Solution: The micropyle is a small pore in the seed coat through which water is absorbed at germination and through which the radicle first emerges. The hilum is the scar of attachment.
Q8 — The Seed · easy · numerical
In a dicot seed the embryo axis has two ends. The portion of the embryonal axis lying above the point of attachment of the cotyledons is the:
A. Coleorhiza, ending in the radicle
B. Epicotyl, ending in the plumule ✓ Correct
C. Hypocotyl, ending in the radicle
D. Coleoptile, ending in the plumule
Solution: In a dicot embryo the epicotyl lies above the cotyledonary node and terminates in the plumule (future shoot); the hypocotyl lies below and ends in the radicle.
Q9 — The Seed · medium · numerical
Castor and coconut seeds retain a food-storing tissue at maturity, whereas gram and bean seeds do not. This tissue and the correct classification are:
A. Endosperm retained — endospermic (albuminous) seeds in castor; used up — non-endospermic (ex-albuminous) in gram ✓ Correct
B. Perisperm retained — albuminous in castor; endosperm retained — albuminous in gram
C. Cotyledons store food in both, so both are non-endospermic
D. Endosperm is absent in both castor and gram, so both are non-endospermic
Solution: In endospermic (albuminous) seeds like castor and coconut, endosperm persists as food store. In non-endospermic (ex-albuminous) seeds like gram and bean, the endosperm is consumed and food is stored in fleshy cotyledons.
Q10 — The Seed · medium · numerical
In a maize grain the endosperm is separated from the single cotyledon by a proteinaceous layer. This cotyledon and the layer are, respectively:
A. The scutellum and the aleurone layer ✓ Correct
B. The scutellum and the perisperm
C. The coleoptile and the pericarp
D. The coleorhiza and the aleurone layer
Solution: The single shield-shaped cotyledon of a grass grain is the scutellum, and the outer proteinaceous layer of the endosperm is the aleurone layer, which secretes enzymes at germination.
Q11 — The Seed · medium · numerical
Which statement about the monocot (maize) grain is INCORRECT?
A. The endosperm is bulky and stores food
B. The grain is a true seed whose seed coat is free and easily separable from the fruit wall ✓ Correct
C. The embryo is small and lies in a groove at one end of the endosperm
D. The seed coat and fruit wall (pericarp) are fused and membranous
Solution: A maize grain is a fruit (caryopsis) in which the seed coat is fused to the pericarp and cannot be separated — so calling it a seed with a free coat is wrong. The endosperm is bulky and the embryo small.
Q12 — The Seed · easy · theory
The outermost covering of a dicotyledonous seed is the seed coat, which has two layers; the outer layer is called ...1... and the inner layer is called ...2...
A. 1-Testa, 2-Tegmen ✓ Correct
B. 1-Coleorhiza, 2-Coleoptile
C. 1-Tegmen, 2-Testa
D. 1-Scutellum, 2-Coleoptile
Solution: The outer seed-coat layer is the testa and the inner layer is the tegmen.
Q13 — The Seed · medium · theory
Find out the incorrect statement about a dicotyledonous seed. (1) Above the hilum is a small pore called the micropyle. (2) Within the seed coat is the embryo, consisting of an embryonal axis and two cotyledons. (3) In castor, the endosperm formed as a food-storing tissue is a pre-fertilisation structure. (4) At the two ends of the embryonal axis are present the radicle and plumule.
A. Above the hilum is a small pore called the micropyle
B. In castor, the endosperm formed as a food-storing tissue is a pre-fertilisation structure ✓ Correct
C. Within the seed coat is the embryo, consisting of an embryonal axis and two cotyledons
D. At the two ends of the embryonal axis are present the radicle and plumule
Solution: Endosperm is a post-fertilisation structure formed after triple fusion, not a pre-fertilisation structure.
Q14 — The Seed · medium · theory
Find out the incorrect statement. (1) Orchid is a non-endospermic monocotyledonous seed. (2) Castor is an endospermic dicotyledonous seed. (3) In a monocotyledonous seed the outer covering of endosperm is separated from the embryo by a proteinaceous aleurone layer. (4) None of the above.
A. Orchid is a non-endospermic monocotyledonous seed
B. Castor is an endospermic dicotyledonous seed
C. In a monocotyledonous seed the outer covering of endosperm is separated by a proteinaceous aleurone layer
D. None of the above ✓ Correct
Solution: Statements 1, 2 and 3 are all correct, so no statement is incorrect ('None of the above').
Q15 — The Seed · easy · theory
In monocotyledonous seeds, the embryo is small and situated in a groove at one end of the endosperm. It consists of one large
A. Shield-shaped cotyledon known as scutellum ✓ Correct
B. Shield-shaped cotyledon known as tigellum
C. Bean-shaped cotyledon known as tigellum
D. Kidney-shaped cotyledon known as scutellum
Solution: The single, large, shield-shaped cotyledon of a monocot seed is called the scutellum.
Q16 — The Seed · easy · theory
The wheat grain has an embryo with one large, shield-shaped cotyledon known as the
A. Coleorhiza
B. Coleoptile
C. Scutellum ✓ Correct
D. Epiblast
Solution: The large shield-shaped cotyledon of wheat (and other grasses) is the scutellum.
Q17 — The Seed · easy · theory
A non-albuminous (non-endospermous) seed is produced in
A. Maize
B. Wheat
C. Castor
D. Pea ✓ Correct
Solution: Pea seeds store food in the cotyledons and lack endosperm at maturity, so they are non-albuminous.
Q18 — The Seed · medium · theory
Coconut water and the edible part of coconut are equivalent to
A. Endosperm ✓ Correct
B. Mesocarp
C. Endocarp
D. Embryo
Solution: Both coconut water (free-nuclear) and the white kernel (cellular) are forms of endosperm.
Q19 — The Seed · medium · theory
Assertion (A): The two cotyledons in a seed are embryonic leaves. Reason (R): The embryo contains a radicle and a plumule.
A. Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
B. Assertion is false but reason is true
C. Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion ✓ Correct
D. Assertion is true but reason is false
Solution: Both are true, but the presence of radicle and plumule does not explain why cotyledons are embryonic leaves.
Q20 — The Seed · medium · theory
Statement I: A monocotyledonous seed consists of a single shield-shaped cotyledon called scutellum and a short axis with a plumule and radicle. Statement II: The plumule and radicle are enclosed in sheaths called coleoptile and coleorhiza respectively.
A. Only statement II is correct
B. Both statements I and II are incorrect
C. Both statements I and II are correct ✓ Correct
D. Only statement I is correct
Solution: Both are standard NCERT facts about the monocot (e.g. maize) seed structure.
Q21 — The Seed · medium · theory
Cotyledon of a maize grain is called
A. Scutellum ✓ Correct
B. Plumule
C. Coleoptile
D. Coleorhiza
Solution: The single shield-shaped cotyledon of maize (a monocot grain) is the scutellum.
Q22 — The Seed · medium · theory
The morphological nature of the edible part of coconut is
A. Endosperm ✓ Correct
B. Pericarp
C. Cotyledon
D. Perisperm
Solution: The edible white kernel and coconut water are the cellular and liquid endosperm.
Q23 — The Seed · medium · theory
The mature seeds of plants such as gram and pea possess no endosperm because
A. The endosperm is used up by the developing embryo during seed development ✓ Correct
B. There is no double fertilisation in them
C. Endosperm is never formed in them
D. These plants are not angiosperms
Solution: Gram and pea are non-endospermic (ex-albuminous) seeds because the endosperm is consumed by the developing embryo and stored in cotyledons.
Q24 — The Seed · medium · theory
Endosperm, a product of double fertilisation in angiosperms, is absent in the seeds of
A. Gram
B. Maize
C. Orchids ✓ Correct
D. Castor
Solution: Orchid seeds are non-endospermic; endosperm is absent even though double fertilisation occurs.
Q25 — The Seed · medium · theory
The placenta is attached to the developing seed near the
A. Testa
B. Chalaza
C. Micropyle
D. Hilum ✓ Correct
Solution: The funicle/placenta connects to the seed at the hilum, the scar on the seed coat.
Q26 — The Seed · hard · theory
Match the following and choose the correct option. a. Aleurone layer, b. Parthenocarpic fruit, c. Ovule, d. Endosperm; i. Without fertilisation, ii. Nutrition, iii. Double fertilisation, iv. Seed
A. a-(ii), b-(iv), c-(i), d-(iii)
B. a-(i), b-(ii), c-(iii), d-(iv)
C. a-(iv), b-(ii), c-(i), d-(iii)
D. a-(ii), b-(i), c-(iv), d-(iii) ✓ Correct
Solution: Aleurone layer=nutrition, parthenocarpic fruit=without fertilisation, ovule=seed, endosperm=product of double fertilisation.