Seeds are the structures formed as a result of sexual reproduction. These are formed from the ovules after fertilization. Each seed consists of an undeveloped plant called embryo along with stored food as endosperm. It is surrounded by a protective layer called seed coat. In some plant, an additional layer of nutritive tissue is present in the seed which is derived from the diploid tissue of the ovule, called nucellus. It surrounds the embryo. It is the residual, persistent nucellus. It is found in the seeds of black pepper.

The awakening of the dormant embryo within the seed for growth and development is seed germination. During this period, different changes occur within the embryo until it develops into a normal seedling. The embryo of the seed germinates under the favourable condition to form radicle and plumule. The radicle grows downward to form the root system and the plumule which move upward above the soil forms the shoot system. There are two types of germination i) hypogeal and ii) epigeal germination. In hypogeal germination, the cotyledons neither move upwards nor transform into the first leaves of germinating seedlings. In epigeal germination, cotyledons are carried above the soil.

The embryo is the multicellular structure formed by the cell division of the zygote that is the product of fertilization. During fertilization, the male and female gametes are fused to form a diploid structure called the zygote. This undergoes cell division to form an embryo which is present inside the seed. The embryo consists of thick fleshy cotyledons attached to an axis called the tigellum. The upper end of the axis bears some crowded immature leaves, which is called plumule. The lower end is the radicle that gives rise to the root. The embryo germinates to form seedlings.