– Definition of Radicle:
– The radicle is the first part of a seedling to emerge during germination.
– It is the embryonic root of a plant that grows downward in the soil.
– Above the radicle is the embryonic stem or hypocotyl supporting the cotyledon(s).
– It emerges from a seed through the micropyle to allow the seed to absorb water.
– Radicles in seedlings can be antitropous or syntropous.
– Importance of Radicle:
– It is crucial for the seedling to absorb water and start photosynthesis.
– If the radicle decays, it can lead to pre-emergence damping off and the death of the seedling.
– The plumule, which grows after the radicle, is the baby shoot of the plant.
– Charles Darwin mentioned the radicle in his book about plant movement in 1880.
– The radicle plays a vital role in the growth and development of plants.
– Diseases Related to Radicle:
– Pre-emergence damping off can occur if the radicle begins to decay.
– This disease manifests as darkened spots on the radicle.
– Eventually, it can cause the death of the seedling.
– Proper care and monitoring of the radicle are essential to prevent damping off.
– Healthy radicles are crucial for the successful growth of seedlings.
– Scientific Studies on Radicle:
– Researchers have studied the spermosphere to understand radicle development.
– Journals like the Journal of Applied Microbiology have published research on radicles.
– Encyclopedias like Encyclopedia Britannica provide detailed information on plant anatomy, including the radicle.
– Scientific studies help expand knowledge about the functions and characteristics of radicles.
– Understanding radicle behavior is essential for advancements in plant science and agriculture.
– Related Topics:
– Plant perception (physiology) is a field that explores how plants perceive and respond to their environment.
– References like scholarly articles and books provide in-depth information on radicles.
– Categories such as plant anatomy and plant morphology are closely related to the study of radicles.
– Plant cognition involves understanding how plants process information and make decisions.
– Exploring related topics can enhance understanding of the radicle’s role in plant growth and development.
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In botany, the radicle is the first part of a seedling (a growing plant embryo) to emerge from the seed during the process of germination. The radicle is the embryonic root of the plant, and grows downward in the soil (the shoot emerges from the plumule). Above the radicle is the embryonic stem or hypocotyl, supporting the cotyledon(s).

It is the embryonic root inside the seed. It is the first thing to emerge from a seed and down into the ground to allow the seed to suck up water and send out its leaves so that it can start photosynthesizing.
The radicle emerges from a seed through the micropyle. Radicles in seedlings are classified into two main types. Those pointing away from the seed coat scar or hilum are classified as antitropous, and those pointing towards the hilum are syntropous.
If the radicle begins to decay, the seedling undergoes pre-emergence damping off. This disease appears on the radicle as darkened spots. Eventually, it causes death of the seedling.
The plumule is the baby shoot. It grows after the radicle.
In 1880, Charles Darwin published a book about plants he had studied, The Power of Movement in Plants, where he mentions the radicle.
It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the tip of the radicle thus endowed [..] acts like the brain of one of the lower animals; the brain being situated within the anterior end of the body, receiving impressions from the sense-organs, and directing the several movements.