All Topics

Epicotyl

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Epicotyl

In plant physiology

Plant physiology

Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the function, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology....
, the epicotyl is the embryonic shoot above the cotyledon

Cotyledon

A cotyledon is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant. Upon germination, the cotyledon may become the embryonic first leaf of a seedling....
s. In most plants the epicotyl will eventually develop into the stem and the leaves of the plant. In dicots, the hypocotyl

Hypocotyl

Hypocotyl is a Botany term for a part of a germination seedling of a seed plant. As the plant embryo grows at germination, it sends out a shoot called a radicle that becomes the primary root and penetrates down into the soil....
is what appears to be the base stem under the spent withered cotyledons, and the shoot just above that is the epicotyl. In monocot plants, the first shoot that emerges from the ground or from the seed

Seed

A seed is a small Plant embryogenesis plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some Food storage. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant....
is the epicotyl, from which the first shoots and leaves emerge.

In sunflower seedlings, the difference between epicotyl and hypocotyl can be seen from the parts of the stem divided by the first pair of leaves.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Epicotyl'

Start a new discussion about 'Epicotyl'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

In plant physiology

Plant physiology

Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the function, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology....
, the epicotyl is the embryonic shoot above the cotyledon

Cotyledon

A cotyledon is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant. Upon germination, the cotyledon may become the embryonic first leaf of a seedling....
s. In most plants the epicotyl will eventually develop into the stem and the leaves of the plant. In dicots, the hypocotyl

Hypocotyl

Hypocotyl is a Botany term for a part of a germination seedling of a seed plant. As the plant embryo grows at germination, it sends out a shoot called a radicle that becomes the primary root and penetrates down into the soil....
is what appears to be the base stem under the spent withered cotyledons, and the shoot just above that is the epicotyl. In monocot plants, the first shoot that emerges from the ground or from the seed

Seed

A seed is a small Plant embryogenesis plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some Food storage. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant....
is the epicotyl, from which the first shoots and leaves emerge.

In sunflower seedlings, the difference between epicotyl and hypocotyl can be seen from the parts of the stem divided by the first pair of leaves. Here the stem above the cotyledons is covered in tiny hairs whereas the region of stem below (hypocotyl) is smooth.

Lengthening of the epicotyl is thought to be controlled by the phytochrome photoreceptors.

See also

Hypocotyl
Hypocotyl

Hypocotyl is a Botany term for a part of a germination seedling of a seed plant. As the plant embryo grows at germination, it sends out a shoot called a radicle that becomes the primary root and penetrates down into the soil....