The pictures below are some normal and abnormal corn seedlings from standard germination
tests. In a germination test, some seedlings may sprout and appear to germinate, but they may be
missing critical parts, have serious lesions or such arrested development they are not classified as
normal seedlings based on the AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds.  These pictures display a few of the
problems resulting in seedlings being classified as abnormal seedlings.

Contact Kevin Seward, our Registered Seed Technologist, at 765-523-2535 or email him at
seward@indianacrop.org if you have questions.

		Abnormal seedlings are missing integral parts, have lesions or other damage, and will NOT develop into a complete plant under normal conditions.
Twisted coleoptile	Split & twisted coleoptile	I	Split Coleoptile	Twisted Coleoptile
		Normal seedlings contain all their parts and will develop into complete plants under normal conditions.
Lacking primary root growth	Shredded coleoptile		Shredded coleoptile	Absence of root development
Abnormal & Normal Seedling Comparison		Normal Seedling with short coleoptile