Question

Differentiate between coleorhiza and coleoptile.

Answer 1

Coleoptile:

1. A protective sheath of monocot seeds surrounds the tip of the shoot.
2. Up to a point, it grows up with the plumule.

Coleorhiza:

1. Found in monocot seeds, it is a sheath-like structure.
2. It typically envelops the radicle, connecting the coleoptile to the primary root.
3. It does not grow to a substantial length and hence stops growing once it emerges from the seed, remaining in the soil.

Coleoptile	Coleorhiza
Conical protective sheath protecting young tip in grass enclosing plumule.	Undifferentiated sheath enclosing radicle protecting roots of the germination grass.
2. Protective sheath	2. Undifferentiated sheath
3. Emerges out of the soil turning into green.	3. Stays within the soil.
4. Plumule	4. Root cap and radicle
5. Breaks through it to elongate.	5. Breaks through it, however no growth further.