Explanation
In maize, the scutellum is a specialized cotyledon that is responsible for absorbing nutrients from the endosperm and transferring them to the developing embryo.
So, the correct answer is A: Cotyledon. The cotyledon is the part of the seed that contains the embryonic plant and serves as a source of nutrients for the developing embryo. In maize, the scutellum is the primary cotyledon and plays a crucial role in seed germination and early seedling growth.
Coleorrhiza and coleoptile are also structures involved in seedling growth in maize and other plants. Coleorrhiza is the sheath that surrounds the embryonic root (radicle) of a germinating seed, while coleoptile is the sheath that surrounds the embryonic shoot (plumule). Hypocotyl is the part of the stem that lies between the cotyledons and the root in a germinating seed.
