Special Note
Ask an Astrobiologist has received more than 2500 questions about Nibiru and 2012, with more than 200 answers posted. Please read a summary of the answers that have already been posted, view a video on these topics, use the search feature and read the FAQ’s before submitting questions on these topics.
-
Question
Can seeds germinate without air?
No, but seeds are able to survive for a long time under anoxia (total deprivation of oxygen). However, molecular oxygen (O2) is essential for eventual seed germination. The rate of germination of most seeds is optimum for oxygen partial pressure close to that in air (21 Kpa). Germination of course slows down when the oxygen pressure is lowered. Nevertheless, dramatic differences are observed depending on the kind of seed: starchy seeds can germinate at much lower oxygen pressures (< 2 Kpa) than fatty seeds. Although molecular oxygen is required for seed germination, various oxygenated molecules or oxy-radicals are increasingly implicated to explain the loss of viability in seeds during storage.
February 22, 2002
- How frequently are questions answered?
- I asked a question but there was no answer?
- Who is the Astrobiologist answering these questions?
- Will I get an email when my question is answered?
- What college courses should I take to become an astrobiologist?
- How can I get a job as an astrobiologist at NASA?
- Have aliens visited Earth? Are UFOs real?
- Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
- Is it true that the Sun will be in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in December 2012 and that this will cause a pole shift and massive destruction.
- Has NASA discovered life on other worlds?
- Astrobiology Career Path Suggestions
