ABSTRACT
A seed is a plant’s means of producing another plant, thereby perpetuat ing the species. The requirements for a seed to fulfill this role are for it to provide a good store of nutrients to supply the new plant in the early stages of its growth. Safe storage of these nutrients is essential throughout what ever conditions may occur until the right combination of moisture and tem perature triggers the germination response. The ability of plants to provide seeds as stores of nutrients has also made them an attractive food source for humankind. Because grains have been recognized as an important food since prehistory, the first propagation of seed-bearing plants was an impor tant phase in the development of humankind, marking the transition from hunter-gatherer to a settled agricultural existence. These developments led, in turn, to the building of permanent dwellings and to a wide range of cul tural activities.
