Published at the Chat 'n Chew Cafe, April 2000
URL: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/articles.00/Emergence_Process-0418-Gallery.html

Photo Gallery:
Coleoptile Appearance During Emergence

R.L. (Bob) Nielsen
Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1150
Email address: rnielsen@purdue.edu
 
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The coleoptile is a rigid piece of plant tissue that encloses the first few leaves of the corn seedling as the mesocotyl elongates and 'pushes' the coleoptile to the soil surface during the emergence process.

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Image 1:

Split in coleoptile side due to expansion of inner leaves.
Image 2:

Inner leaves 'teased' out of coleoptile of Image 1.
Image 3:

View of kernel, mesocotyl, coleoptile and leaf emergence just below the soil surface.
Image 4:

Emergence of inner leaves through split tip of coleoptile.
Image 5:

Successful emergence!
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