The process of ___ involves breaking the seed coat by soaking or scratching the seed to promote germination

• A. Hydration
• B. Scarification
• C. Stratification
• D. Gestation

Answer: (B)

Scarification is the process of breaking or weakening a seed coat to allow water and air to reach the embryo, which kick-starts germination. Some seeds have very hard, impermeable coats that prevent water uptake; by scratching, nicking, or abrading the coat, or by soaking in hot water or mild acid, you reduce this dormancy and let moisture penetrate. Soaking or scratching are classic scarification methods because they specifically target the seed coat to enable germination. Hydration alone would wet the seed but doesn’t disrupt a tough coat, so it isn’t enough for seeds with hard coats. Stratification, on the other hand, uses cold, moist conditions to break dormancy in some species, not by weakening the seed coat. Gestation isn’t a term used for seed germination and isn’t related to this process.