What Are The Two Types Of Germination And Hat Are The Stages In The Germination Of Maize Grain?

There are two types of germination present. A hypogeal germination is where the cotyledons remain below the surface of the soil (e.g. maize and broad bean). The other type of germination is called epigeal germination, where the cotyledons are carried above the ground (e.g. sword bean seed). Maize grain germination can be termed as hypogeal germination.

First of all the radicle emerges, rupturing the radicle sheath or coleorhiza and piercing through the testa and pericarp. It grows downwards and develops a tuft of root hairs just behind its tip. Adventitious roots grow from the base of the stem. This produces a fibrous root system, characteristic of most monocotyledonous plants.

Meanwhile the plumule sheath or coleoptile lengthens. It pierces through the walls of the grain, and grows upwards above the ground. The plumule, which is enclosed and protected by the coleoptile, grows and breaks through the coleoptile. The first foliage leaves appear and unroll. During the whole period the cotyledon remains below the ground. It digests and absorbs the food materials from the endosperm, and transports these materials to the growing regions of the embryo. Soon the food store is exhausted, and the endosperm and the cotyledon wither and drop off.

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