seed coat

noun

: an outer protective covering of a seed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Submerge your seeds in boiling water for one minute to break through the seed coat. —

Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2023 The gel that forms around the seed coat acts as a barrier between the digestive enzymes and carbohydrates, which in turn slows down the rate at which the carbohydrates are turned into sugar. —

Science & Food, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2016 Fermentation also promotes a protective seed coat that will prevent the seeds from germinating until they are planted. —

Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022 Some pests can penetrate the seed coat of plants, which is why whole grains are particularly attractive to certain species, DeVries says. —

Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 In fact, the partial removal of the seed coat by parakeets enhanced the germination speed of monkey puzzle seeds, according to the 2018 study. —

Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Aug. 2022 This may be done by soaking the seeds in water or by using a tool to nick a hole in the seed coat. —

Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2022 Harvest lettuce seed when the seed coat turns hard and dark in color. —

oregonlive, 4 Oct. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seed coat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.