What is the benefit of scarifying seeds before planting?

Scarifying seeds before planting is a process that involves physically breaking or softening the seed coat to facilitate germination. This action can help speed up germination by allowing moisture and air to penetrate the seed more easily. Many seeds have hard outer coatings that can impede water absorption, which is crucial for the seed to begin the germination process. By scarifying the seeds, you effectively lower the barrier that the seed coat presents, enabling quicker activation of the seed's internal processes required for growth.

While some other options may touch on related concepts—like water absorption or the toughness of the seed coat—scarification specifically aims to enhance germination speed by addressing the seed coat's impermeability, making the correct answer centered on the acceleration of the germination process.