How the corn kernel works.

With corn planting underway, Pioneer agronomist Matt Montgomery says it's important to remember that the kernel's seed coat protects against "hungry organisms" waiting to grab on to starch. Corn kernels are composed of two other parts outside of the seed coat, or pericarp: the embryo and the endosperm. They pretty much get broken down into the smallest possible particles, whereas horny starch can be used for many different things", Montgomery says, adding starch is the fuel for the success of the embryo. [Extracted from the article]