Which type of seeds need water, light, or oxygen to germinate?

Non-dormant seeds require water, light, or oxygen to germinate because they are ready to begin the growth process as soon as the environmental conditions are favorable. These seeds have undergone maturation and are in a state that allows for immediate germination when they come into contact with moisture, the right temperature, and sometimes light.

Water activates the enzymes that trigger the growth processes within the seed, light stimulates certain types of seeds to begin germinating, and oxygen is necessary for cellular respiration, which provides the energy required for growth.

In contrast, dormant seeds are in a state where they do not germinate even when environmental conditions are suitable. They often need specific signals to break dormancy, like a period of cold or a change in moisture levels. Seedlings are the young plants that have already germinated, and spike stage seeds refer to seeds that have begun their growth process but are not actively germinating yet. Thus, only non-dormant seeds actively seek and use these elements to start their life cycle.