Saw badly formed germ (4)

I believe the answer is:

seed

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'germ' is the definition.
(I know that germ can be written as seed)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for seed that I've seen before include "Initiate the growth of" , "Top competitor" , "High-rated tennis player" , "Basis for new plant" , "one of the best players" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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