Which type of emergence does corn exhibit, keeping the growing point below the soil surface?

Corn exhibits hypogeal emergence, which is characterized by the growing point remaining below the soil surface. In hypogeal emergence, the cotyledons or seed leaves do not emerge above ground, while the true leaves begin to develop and grow upward from a protected position. This adaptation can be advantageous as it helps protect the delicate growing point from adverse environmental conditions such as drought or soilborne diseases.

In contrast to hypogeal emergence, epigeal emergence involves the cotyledons being pulled above the soil surface. This type of emergence is seen in plants like beans or peas, where the seed leaves play a crucial role in photosynthesis shortly after germination. Additionally, the terms subsoil and surface in this context do not accurately describe the emergence types associated with corn. Subsoil refers to the layer of soil beneath the topsoil, and surface emergence would imply that the growing point rises above the soil immediately after germination, which does not apply to corn. Thus, the identification of hypogeal emergence as the correct answer reflects a key aspect of corn's growth strategy, ensuring the shoot can develop in a protected environment.