Identifying seed structures in a dicot embryo

Steps:

• Recall that the radicle is the embryonic root, located at the pointed end of the seed.
• Identify the plumule as the embryonic shoot, positioned between the cotyledons.
• Note that cotyledons are the seed leaves that store nutrients, forming the bulk of the seed.
• Match these to the diagram: 1 at the base (radicle), 2 in the center (plumule), 3 as the surrounding leaves (cotyledon).

Why C is correct:

• Option C aligns with standard dicot seed anatomy, where the radicle emerges first as the root, followed by the plumule as the shoot, and cotyledons provide nourishment (per plant embryology definitions).

Why the others are wrong:

• A mislabels the base as plumule instead of radicle, inverting root and shoot positions.
• B incorrectly starts with cotyledon at 1, which is not the basal structure.
• D repeats C's labeling but may imply a sequencing error in some contexts; however, C is the precise match.

Final answer: C