Difference Between Seed And Grain – A Detailed Guide

Trying to understand the difference between seed and grain can be as difficult as solving a math problem, but it is essential if you are a student of botany and horticulture studies.

Many people get confused between seed and grain, primarily because they look almost the same, and without knowledge, it is more difficult to tell them apart. Some people even refer to rice as a seed, which is understandable because a grain is technically a seed, but only in some cases.

Understanding grain vs seed is important if you plan to work on a farm, in the food industry, or simply grow your garden. While both seeds and grains come from plants and play a role in growing new ones, they serve different purposes, and without knowing the difference, you cannot work with plants.

A seed is designed to grow into a new plant, while a grain is usually harvested so it can be eaten or processed as required. In this guide, we will explore the differences between seed and grain so you can have a clear idea of what sets them apart and why the difference matters.

What Are Seeds?

To understand the difference between seed and grain, you need to first learn what they are in botanical terms, and that’s exactly what we are going to help you with.

A seed forms after a plant goes through sexual reproduction, which is nothing more than a tiny package containing everything needed to grow a new plant.

You will find an embryo, the beginning of a new plant, along with some food and a protective outer layer inside each seed. 

Both gymnosperms and angiosperms produce seeds, but there are slight differences that help you tell them apart. Seeds are usually enclosed inside fruits in angiosperms but exposed in gymnosperms, which is why they are often called “naked seeds.”

Seeds play a big role in helping plants spread and grow in new places and consist of three main parts, including an embryo, endosperm, and seed coat that protects it from damage and impact from outside elements.

The embryo develops into a zygote and then into a new plant, while the endosperm contains nutrients needed for the baby plant to grow.

Functions of the Seed

There are two types of seeds, including monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous, and you can tell the difference between them based on the number of cotyledons or seed leaves they have. Monocot seeds have one seed leaf, while dicot seeds have two, and they serve an important purpose until they grow into a plant. That being said, let us now tell you about the role or functions of seeds.

• They help a new plant to grow via germination.

• Seeds contain endosperm, food reservoirs for the growing plant inside.

Examples of Seeds

Some examples of seeds are mustard, cotton, pumpkin, and sunflower.

What Are Grains?

Now that you know about seeds, the next question on your mind is likely: What are grains?

A grain is a type of seed that comes from grasses like corn, rice, or wheat, but doesn’t have a fruit surrounding it, which makes it easier for the wind to carry and spread them.

Grains consist of four main parts, including an embryo, endosperm, seed coat, and bran, or pericarp, which is the hard outer layer, rich in minerals and fiber.

The bran gets attached to the seed and gives us products like rice bran or wheat bran, while the other parts work the same as in a seed.

Functions of Grain

Though all grains are seeds, not all seeds are grains. You will be surprised to learn that grains weren’t made by nature for us to eat because they are hard to digest in their raw state and can even be harmful. That’s why our ancestors mainly ate a grain-free diet so they could remain fit and healthy.

• Grain-based foods are fortified with added minerals and vitamins to make them more nutritious and fit to eat.

• Whole grains are more nutritious than refined ones as they contain the bran, but grains like rye, wheat, and barley contain gluten, a protein many people find difficult to digest.

Examples of Grains

Some fine examples of grains include wheat, rye, rice, and barley.

Difference Between Seed And Grain

We will now highlight the difference between seed and grain based on a few important factors for you to understand why it matters.

Definition

A seed is a part of the plant that can develop into a new plant, but grains, on the other hand, are single seeds of grasses like wheat, rice, barley, or oats used for food. 

To put it in simple words, seeds give birth to a new plant, whereas grains are used as human or animal food.

Components

Both seeds and grains have some common parts, but there are differences too, and understanding them will help you to tell them apart. A seed has three main parts, including an embryo, which is the baby plant, an endosperm that supplies food to the embryo, and a seed coat, which is the protective outer layer.

Grains have a slightly more complex structure as they consist of bran, a tough outer layer, along with an embryo, endosperm, and seed coat. The bran is formed when the seed coat and fruit combine, and that’s what makes it suitable for consumption.

Relation with Fruit

Seeds are found inside fruits in flowering plants, which not only protects them from outside elements but also spreads them as well. But in gymnosperms, seeds are exposed and not enclosed in a fruit.

In grains, the fruit wall and seed coat are fused, and as a result, you cannot separate the fruit from the seed.

Viability

Viability matters the most for seeds as it determines if they will grow into a new plant or not. If a seed is not viable, it won’t germinate, which is why they are selected, tested, and even treated with chemicals like fungicides or pesticides so they stay in good condition.

Since grains are meant for consumption, they are not treated with chemicals, and their viability doesn’t matter either, as the sole focus is on taste, nutrition, and shelf life.

Use and Purpose

Seeds are grown with the goal of planting, as they are selected based on quality and whether they will grow into healthy new plants. Farmers and gardeners rely on viable, high-quality seeds to ensure they germinate successfully when the time comes.

Grains, on the other hand, are mostly harvested for eating, so we can add them to our diet directly or process them into other food products.

Food Value

While both seeds and grains can be eaten, they are used differently. In seeds, the endosperm, which is rich in starch, is used for food, but in grains, the whole structure, including the bran, is consumed as it is rich in both fiber and nutrients.

This is one of the many differences in grain vs seed that helps you to distinguish and not be confused about them.

Here’s the difference between seed and grain in tabular form:

Characteristics	Grain	Seed
Definition	Seed of grass	Part of plant containing embryo
Parts	Embryo, endosperm, seed coat, and bran	Embryo, endosperm, and seed coat
Purpose	Nutrient consumption	Commercial sowing
Purity	Not known	Genetically pure
Viability	Absent	Present
Certification	No	Yes
Chemical Treatment	No	Yes
Examples	Cereals, wheat, rice, barley	Cotton, mustard, castor beans

Do Grains Count As Seeds?

Grains come from grass plants like wheat, rice, and corn, which we grow and harvest for food, where each grain contains the essential parts of a seed, including the endosperm, embryo, and seed coat that helps it to grow into a new plant if the conditions are favourable.

Grains are seeds if you look at them from a scientific point of view, but in our everyday life, especially in cooking or food discussions, we treat grains and seeds as two separate things. 

For example, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, or sunflower seeds are called seeds, but wheat or rice are referred to as grains, and this difference comes more from how we use them in our daily diet than from their biological definition.

Grains are a major source of food worldwide and are considered staple foods in many cultures, mainly because they are rich in carbohydrates and other nutrients. Whole grains provide vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber needed by our body and play a big role in our development.

Benefits Of Consuming Seeds

Seeds are small, but they are packed with powerful nutrients, and eating them regularly can benefit your body in the following ways.

• Seeds like chia, flax, sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame are rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and can improve heart health by lowering bad cholesterol and supporting good cholesterol. 

• They are a great source of antioxidants that fight free radicals and reduce inflammation in the body. 

• The fiber in seeds supports digestion and keeps you full for longer, so you don’t eat frequently and manage your weight better.

• Some seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids that support brain and joint health.

• By adding a handful of seeds to your meals or snacks, you can boost your nutrition without much effort.

Benefits Of Consuming Grains

Grains are an important part of a healthy diet, especially if it’s whole grains like brown rice, oats, quinoa, and barley, as they are a rich source of nutrients.

• Eating grains provides carbohydrates, which you need to keep you energised and get through the day without lacking.

• Whole grains are high in fiber and support good digestion, so you should eat them more to avoid constipation.

• Eating grains regularly can improve your heart health and reduce bad cholesterol levels if you are suffering from it.

• Grains are rich in B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and selenium, all nutrients your body needs to function properly. 

• By including a variety of grains in your diet, you can improve overall health and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases as well.

How To Incorporate Seeds And Grains In Your Daily Diet?

Once you understand the difference between seed and grain, you will want to incorporate them in your daily diet, and we have discussed exactly that in this section.

By including seeds and grains in your everyday diet, you not only make a healthy choice but also fulfill your body’s nutrient requirements. Since both are packed with nutrients like fiber, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, eating them in your daily diet can benefit your body greatly.

You can start your day by adding chia seeds or flaxseeds to your morning smoothie or yogurt, as they are good for digestion and will keep you full longer.

As for grains, you can opt for oats, brown rice, quinoa, and wheat for extra fiber and nutrients. Since these are whole grains, they can easily replace refined grains in your meals, and instead of white rice, you can have millet with your curries. 

You can also swap regular pasta for whole wheat or quinoa pasta and make breakfast bowls with rolled oats topped with fruits and nuts.

Seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame make great snacks, but you can further enhance their taste by roasting them lightly or simply sprinkling them over salads or stir-fries.

Include a variety of seeds and grains in your diet so you can get the full range of health benefits, and with a little creativity, you can enjoy them in both sweet and savoury dishes as you please.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the difference between seed and grain can be beneficial in many ways, even if you are not a farmer or a horticulture student. Seeds grow into new plants and are used for commercial sowing, whereas grains are seeds of grass plants and are grown for consumption. Also, all seeds are grains, but not true when it’s the other way round. You can add both grains and seeds to your diet to ensure your body gets all the nutrients it needs to function properly.

FAQs

Are seeds and grains the same thing?

A seed grows into a new plant, whereas grains come from grass-like crops like corn, rice, or wheat. All grains are seeds, but not all seeds are grains.

Is rice a grain or a seed?

Rice is both a grain and a seed. When we eat rice, we eat the seed of the rice plant.

What is the difference between seed and grain production?

Seed production is all about growing seeds for farmers to grow them later, but grain production involves growing crops that are harvested, processed, and eaten, not planted again.

What are the 7 grains and seeds?

The 7 grains and seeds refer to Barley, Chickpea, Rice, Green Gram, Foxtail Millet, Wheat, and Sesame. 

Is wheat a grain or a seed?

Wheat is both a grain and a seed, as it can grow into a new plant.

Is millet a grain or a seed?

Millet is a grain that comes from grass plants and is often used in porridge, flatbreads, or birdseed.

Can grain be used as seed?

Grains can be used as seed, but only in certain conditions if they're healthy, and grown for planting only.

Do seeds count as whole grains?

Seeds are not counted as whole grains, but they can be consumed in a similar way in some cases.  

Are oats a grain or a seed?

Oats are both a grain and a seed.

Are seeds used as food grains?

Many seeds are used as food grains, including wheat, rice, and corn, as they are edible.