Sunflower seeds are particularly rich in lipids and proteins

Sunflower seeds are particularly rich in lipids and proteins, and contain a relatively small proportion of carbohydrates. The function of a seed is for reproduction of the parent plant, and a seed can eventually turn into a mature sunflower. Explain why most of the mass of seeds is made up of lipids and proteins.

Solution

There are many uses of lipids over carbohydrates as,

1) Lipid contains more energy per mass than carbohydrates as seeds being so small tend to acquire more energy in smaller area, which can be utilized during the process of seed germination and later developments.

2) High lipid content protects seed embryo from extreme environmental such as cold, heat.

3) High lipid content protects seed from being dehydrated during the process of sapling formation

4) Few lipids acts as precursors in many metabolism cycles