Fig. 1

Mesocotyl length at different sowing depths. Maize seedlings were grown under a photoperiod with 16 h light (80–100 μE m^− 2 s^− 1, 28 °C). After two weeks, the lengths of mesocotyl and coleoptile and the germination rate were measured. a Seedlings at different sowing depths. b Three representative seedlings showing changes in mesocotyl length with sowing depth. c The lengths of mesocotyl and coleoptile at different sowing depths. d Germination rate at different sowing depths. The data represented the results from three independent experiments (mean ± SE), and at least 15 seedlings were measured in each assay