Under very cool conditions, emergence may not occur for 2-3 weeks. Soil moisture, soil compaction, crusting, planting depth, etc., also influence time to emergence. Remnants of the coleoptile are seen at the soil surface. The radicle and seminal roots of the seed root system have been taking up water and nutrients from the soil. Leaves are now carrying on photosynthesis, and the young plant is pretty much independent of the seed as a food source.
Some authors refer to seminal and nodal roots as adventitious roots.
Establishment of the nodal roots is very important in order to provide the water and nutrients the corn plant needs for normal growth. Thus, if the above-ground leaves are destroyed, additional leaves will still emerge unless the growing point has become diseased, frozen or destroyed in some other manner.