Biology
Investigatory
Project
ON
Dispersal of seed by various
agencies
2020-2021
OXFORD ENGLISH SCHOOL
PERUPADAVE
BIOLOGY PROJECT REPORT
This is to certify that the project report entitiled _____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ is a
bonafide record of the original work done by Mr/Mrs_________________________
____________________________________________________________________ .
Register No: ______________________________ during the academic year
____________________________.
Teacher in Charge
External Examiner Principal
………………………………………………
CONTENT
1) Acknowledgement
2) Introduction
3) Aim
4) Materials Required
5) Experimental Procedure
6) Observation
7) Reference
Acknowledgement
I have taken efforts in this project.
However, it would not have been possible
without the kind support and help of many
individuals. I would like to thank my
principal Mr. P. V Sasidharan and school for
providing me with facilities required to do
my project.
I am highly indebted to my
biology teacher, Mr. Vineet T.V, for his
invaluable guidance which has sustained my
efforts in all the stages of this project work.
I would also thank my parents for
their continuous support and encouragement.
Introduction
The process of scattering of fruits and seeds to distant
places away from their parent is called dispersal on
dissemination. It provides the new plants better
chances of obtaining water, nutrients, light and space
thereby enabling them to have a better start in life.
The fruits and seeds develop many devices for better
dispersal through agencies.
The principal agencies that aid in the dispersal of fruits
and seeds are wind (anemochory), water (hydrochory)
and animals including man (zoochory). Besides, some
plants show self-dispersal by explosive mechanism
(autochory).The dispersal through the agency of
animals is considered as the best and most successful
method. Dispersal of seeds and fruits is quite
Interesting subject of natural phenomenon and hence
the study of dispersal of seed by various agencies has
been selected for the present project.
Aim
To study the dispersal of seed by various
agencies.
Materials required
Different types of seeds and fruits,
knife, forceps, petridishes, hand lens, etc.
Experimental procedure
1. Collect different types of seeds and observe
their features carefully, classify them
according to their mode of dispersal.
2. Similarly cut open different types of fruits,
note down the features of their seeds and
classify them according to their mode of
dispersal.
3. Record your observation in the form of the
table given below.
Observation
Characteristics of some common seeds and
fruits and their mode of dispersal
S.n Plant Characteristics of seeds/fruits Mode of
o dispersal/external
agency
1 Impatiens Capsular fruit, mature fruit burst Autochory/explosive
open with force when touched mechanism
and seeds are shot several feet
away.
2 Moringa, Thin, wing like expansions are Anemochory/dispersal
Dalbergia present in seeds/fruits, wings by wind
provide large surface area to the
wind for the dispersal.
3 Dandilion Fruit single seeded cypsela with a Anemochory/dispersal
tuft of hair at upper end. Pappus by wind
opens out like a parachute.
4 Calotropis, Seeds have hairy outgrowth to Anemochory/dispersal
Alstonia, provide large surface area to the by wind
Bombax wind.
5 Nymphea, Spongy thalamus or spongy Hydrochory/dispersal
Nelumbium, mesocarp of the fruit. by water
Cocus
6 Boerhaavia, Fruits are sticky and can stick to Zoochory/dispersal by
Cleome the body of animals. animals
7 Achuyranthus, Fruits/seeds have barbs, hooks or Zoochory/dispersal by
Xanthium spines to get attached with the fur animals
of animals.
8 Loranthus Seeds are sticky, seed stick to the Zoochory/dispersal by
beak of the birds. birds
9 Fiscus Fruit edible, chiefly eaten by birds, Zoochory/dispersal by
seeds released unharmed with birds
faeces.
10 Crop plant Fruits/seeds have economic Zoochory/dispersal by
importance. man
Dispersal by wind
Dispersal by water
Dispersal by explosion
Dispersal by animals
Reference
NCERT Text book XII Biology
https://www.wikipedia.org
https://www.britannica.com
https://sciencedirect.com
https://mbgner.net>bioplants>seeds
