Corn Development Stages- R3 (Milk)
After 18 – 20 days from R1 stage, the kernels become mostly yellow and contain “milky” white fluid (i.e. starch accumulates). However, moisture content of kernel at R3 is around 80%. Starch accumulation continuously occurs in the endosperm, and cell division of endosperm is almost complete, indicating that growth of kernels since R3 would be mostly due to cell expansion and starch accumulation rather than cell division of endosperm. It also means that potential kernel size would be finally determined…