Two Seed Leaves and One Tiny True Leaf
One of the references I repeatedly come across in the early stages of tomato growth is to ‘seed leaves’. Also named cotyledons. Reference is also made to the first ‘true leaves’ which come after the seed leaves.
Unreasonably I found myself put out by the expression, true leaves. Relieved my seedlings had leaves, I didn’t want this triumph lessened by them being ‘untrue’!
However now my first true leaves are emerging, making me doubly relieved, I thought I’d look into differences between the two.
An obvious one is appearance. The seed leaves have a rounded propeller look. In contrast, even at an early stage, the true leaves are distinctly indented.
The seed leaves develop from the outer coating of the seed and in fact on some of my seedlings the outer coating is visibly attached to the end of the seed leaf. A little perhaps like emerging chicks get shard of shell stuck to their damp feathers. But then I read that this shouldn’t happen and that the seed coat should stay under the compost. Furthermore, if it does come up on the end of the seed, due to contact between the seed leaves and the outside of the seed coat this can lead to virus infection.
I haven’t been able to find out what this infection might be but now having read this I shall look out for signs of the seedlings which have their seed coat attached, looking poorly. I don’t know if the best thing to do is to gently remove the seed coat from the leaf or wait till it drops off and hope for no ill effects ?
Do you know what the infections are that can result from this and does it affect just that particular seedling or can it spread to others as well?
