Question

Which of the following groups of seeds represents the orthodox class of seeds?

• A. Coconut and Mango
• B. Rubber and Cocoa
• C. Rice and Wheat
• D. Coffee and Oilpalm

Hint:

An easy way to remember:
- Orthodox = Tolerates drying + Tolerates freezing (e.g., small cereal grains).
- Recalcitrant = Killed by drying + Killed by freezing (e.g., large tropical seeds).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Seeds are classified into three major classes based on their survival response to drying and temperature during storage: orthodox, recalcitrant, and intermediate.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us review these seed classifications:
1. Orthodox seeds: These seeds can survive significant desiccation, down to low moisture contents of \(5%\) to \(7%\).
Once dried, they can be stored at sub-zero temperatures (typically \(-20^{\circ}\text{C}\)) for long periods without losing viability.
Cereal grains like rice, wheat, and barley are classic examples of orthodox seeds.
2. Recalcitrant seeds: These seeds are highly sensitive to drying and cannot survive if their moisture content falls below \(12%\--30%\).
They are also damaged by freezing temperatures. Examples include coconut, mango, cocoa, and rubber.
3. Intermediate seeds: These seeds can tolerate some drying (down to about \(10%\--12%\) moisture content) but are sensitive to cold storage. Examples include coffee and oil palm.
Therefore, Rice and Wheat represents the orthodox class of seeds.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The group representing the orthodox class of seeds is Rice and Wheat, matching Option (C).