Arabidopsis Germination

This short movie shows Arabidopsis thaliana seeds germinating in the light. Once the root has emerged and anchored the plant, the shoot begins to grow. As the shoot is exposed to the light, the plant undergoes the process called photomorphogenesis. As the seedlings emerge from the soil, they are already beginning to make chlorophyll and turn green. The cotyledons and apical hook unfold as the plant emerges into the light. The cotyledons expand, turn green and the seedling begins to grow photosynthetically and no longer depends on food stored in the seed.