Originally published May 2000, updated May 2008
URL: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/ColeoptileGallery.html
Coleoptile Appearance During Emergence
R.L. (Bob) Nielsen
Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054
Email address: rnielsen
at purdue.edu
The coleoptile is a rigid piece of plant tissue that encloses the first few leaves (or plumule) of the corn seedling as the mesocotyl elongates and "pushes" the coleoptile to the soil surface during the emergence process.
Click on image to open a larger version.
 Image #1. Closeup of corn coleoptile. |
 Image #2. Split in coleoptile side due to expansion of inner leaves. |
Image #3. Inner leaves 'teased' out of coleoptile. |
Image #4. View of kernel, mesocotyl, coleoptile and leaf emergence just below the soil surface. |
Image #5. Emergence of inner leaves through split tip of coleoptile. |
Image #6. Coleoptile tissue removed to reveal inner leaves of the plumule. |
 Image #7. Successful emergence! |
Related References
Nielsen, RL (Bob). 2004. Corkscrewed Corn Seedlings. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. [On-Line]. Available at http://www.kingcorn.org/news/articles.04/Corkscrew-0501.html. (URL accessed 5/7/08).
Nielsen, RL (Bob). 2008a. Germination Events in Corn. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. [On-Line]. Available at http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/GerminationEvents.html. (URL accessed 5/7/08).
Nielsen, RL (Bob). 2008b. Requirements for Uniform Germination and Emergence of Corn. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. [On-Line]. Available at http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/GermEmergReq.html. (URL accessed 5/7/08).
Nielsen, RL (Bob). 2008c. The Emergence Process in Corn. Corny News Network, Purdue Univ. [On-Line]. Available at http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/Emergence.html. (URL accessed 5/7/08).
Ritchie, S.W., J.J. Hanway, and G.O. Benson. 1993. How a Corn Plant Develops (SP-48). Iowa State Univ. [On-Line]. Available at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/hancock/info/corn.htm. (URL accessed 5/7/08).
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