# Corn kernel > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Corn_kernel > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Corn_kernel.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_kernel > Source revision: 1345066552 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Fruit of corn This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Corn kernel" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Maize kernels Kernels on the cob **Corn kernels** are the [fruits](/source/Fruits) of [corn](/source/Maize) (called maize in many countries). Maize is a [grain](/source/Grain), and the kernels are used in cooking as a [vegetable](/source/Vegetable) or a source of [starch](/source/Starch). A kernel comprises [endosperm](/source/Endosperm), [germ](/source/Germ_(grain)), [pericarp](/source/Pericarp), and tip cap. One ear of corn contains roughly 800 kernels in 16 rows. Corn kernels are readily available in bulk throughout maize-producing areas. They have a number of uses, including [food](/source/Food) and [biofuel](/source/Biofuel). ## Description Multicolored kernels on a single corn cob Corn kernels are the [fruits](/source/Fruits) of [maize](/source/Maize). Maize is a [grain](/source/Grain), and the kernels are used in cooking as a [vegetable](/source/Vegetable) or a source of [starch](/source/Starch). The kernels can be of various colors: blackish, [bluish-gray](/source/Blue_corn), purple, green, red, white and yellow. One ear of corn contains roughly 800 kernels in 16 rows. ### Parts The kernel of maize consists of a [pericarp](/source/Pericarp) (fruit wall) fused to the seed coat. This type of fruit is typical of the [grasses](/source/Poaceae) and is called a [caryopsis](/source/Caryopsis). Maize kernels are frequently and incorrectly referred to as [seeds](/source/Seed). The kernels are about the size of [peas](/source/Pea), and adhere in regular rows round a white, pithy substance, which forms the ear. #### Endosperm About 82 percent of the corn kernel's dry weight consists of [endosperm](/source/Endosperm). [Starch](/source/Starch) is the primary source and it most widely used part of the kernel. It is known as the key component in fuel, sweeteners, [bioplastics](/source/Bioplastic) and other products. #### Germ The germ is the only living part of the corn kernel, also called its embryo. It consists of the important genetic information, vitamins, [enzymes](/source/Enzymes) and minerals for the plant to grow. The germ accounts for 25 percent of the [corn oils](/source/Corn_oil) and it is a valuable part of the kernel. #### Pericarp The [pericarp](/source/Pericarp) is the outer covering that protects the kernel and helps to maintain the kernel's nutrient value and moisture content. It is about 91% fiber. If the kernels are wet-milled, most of the pericarp will end up in the feed. #### Tip cap The tip cap is the attachment point of the kernel to the [corn cob](/source/Corn_cob), where the nutrient and water flow, and this is the only part that is not covered by the pericarp. It contains fiber. ## Use Corn kernels have a number of uses, including food, [biofuel](/source/Biofuel), and [bioplastics](/source/Bioplastic). ### Food Bulk corn kernels Corn is a common food throughout the world in many forms. It is used in breakfast cereals in the [Western world](/source/Western_world) (as [corn flakes](/source/Corn_flakes)) and it is a grain that can be eaten raw off the cob, although it is usually preferred cooked. It may be fed to animals or humans. In [the United States](/source/United_States_of_America), for economic reasons such as government subsidies, corn is the basis of many products, in the form of [high fructose corn syrup](/source/High_fructose_corn_syrup), in favor of cane sugar.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] A [genetic](/source/Gene) variant that accumulates more sugar and less [starch](/source/Starch) in the ear is consumed as a vegetable and is called [sweet corn](/source/Sweet_corn). When ground into [flour](/source/Flour), maize yields more flour, with much less [bran](/source/Bran), than wheat does. It lacks the protein [gluten](/source/Gluten) of wheat and, therefore, makes baked goods with poor rising capability. It is also used in [popcorn](/source/Popcorn), a common snack in the US. ### Biofuel Corn kernels are used as [pelletized fuel](/source/Solid_fuel) for [pellet stoves](/source/Pellet_stove) and furnaces. Corn kernels are a natural pellet, which gives them an economic advantage over other man-made [biomass](/source/Biomass) pellets and [wood pellets](/source/Wood_pellets). The use of corn and other grains as a [renewable biofuel](/source/Corn_ethanol) may have environmental and cost benefits, compared to other energy sources, and may create additional forms of revenue for farmers and other economic industries. However, the use of corn as a fuel stock may increase the price of corn and have adverse effects on corn as a food stock. In the United States, 5.6 million bushels of corn were used for [ethanol](/source/Ethanol_fuel_in_the_United_States) production out of 14.6 million bushels produced, according to preliminary 2018 [USDA](/source/USDA) data.[1] According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, "The increased ethanol [production] seems to have come from the increase in overall corn production and a small decrease in corn used for animal feed and other residual uses. The amount of corn used for other uses, including human consumption, has stayed fairly consistent from year to year."[1] This does not prove there was not an impact on food supplies: Since U.S. corn production doubled (approximately) between 1987 and 2018, it is probable that some cropland previously used to grow other food crops is now used to grow corn. It is also possible or probable that some marginal land has been converted or returned to agricultural use. That may have negative environmental impacts. Part of the production increase is also due to higher yields.[2] Achieving higher yields may entail greater use of irrigation, fertilizers, and controversial herbicides. ## See also - [Corn wet-milling](/source/Corn_wet-milling) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_1-1) ["Alternative Fuels Data Center: Maps and Data - Corn Production and Portion Used for Fuel Ethanol"](https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10339). *afdc.energy.gov*. Retrieved 2019-08-29. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["2009 Crop Year is One for the Record Books, USDA Reports"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100114051806/http://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2010/01_12_2010.asp). Nass.usda.gov. 12 January 2010. Archived from [the original](https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2010/01_12_2010.asp) on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2010. v t e Maize and corn Varieties Amylomaize Baby Blue Dent Field Flint Flour Genetically modified List MON 810 MON 863 Purple Quality Protein Maize Shoepeg Sweet Varieties Visayan white Waxy Lagkitan By origin Bolivia Ecuador Italy Peru Parts Cob Kernel Stover Processing Corn construction Maize milling Nixtamalization Wet-milling Popcorn maker Pathology BBCH-scale Corn allergy Corn smut Maize streak virus Production Biofuel Corn crib Cornstalk fiddle By country United States Tanzania International corn production statistics List of popcorn brands Three Sisters (agriculture) Culture Corn Palace Corn School Field of Corn (1994 sculpture) National Cornbread Festival Sweet Corn Festival Zea (film) Maize dishes Ingredients Cornmeal Masa Mielie-meal Oil Samp Starch Steep liquor Syrup Glucose syrup High-fructose Public perception High-maltose Soups, stews, and porridge Banku Binte biluhuta Bulz Cocoloși Corn chowder Corn crab soup Corn pudding Corn soup Corn stew Cou-cou Creamed corn Fufu Ginataang mais Grits Hasty pudding Kačamak Mămăligă Mămăligă în pături Mush Pashofa Polenta Pozole Sagamite Suam na mais Ugali Xarém Tamales Acaçá Tamale Binaki Guanime Hallaca Humita Nacatamal Pamonha Pasteles Breads and cakes Arepa Bollo Broa Cachapa Chipa guasu Cornbread Corn cookie Corn tortilla List of tortilla-based dishes Johnnycake Makki ki roti Pastel de choclo Piki Proja Pupusa Sloosh Sope Sopa paraguaya Spoonbread Talo Tortilla Totopo Wotou Fried dishes Battered sausage Corn chip Corn dog Corn fritter Corn nut Cornick Corn schnitzel Hushpuppy Milho frito Nachos Sorullos Tostada Tortilla chip Other foods Alivenci Binatog Conkies Corn flakes Corn on the cob Corn relish Corn sauce Gofio Hominy Huitlacoche Kenkey Kuymak Maíz con hielo Maja maíz Maque choux Mote Pinole Popcorn Succotash Beverages Atole Bourbon whiskey Cauim Champurrado Chicha Chicha de jora Chicha morada Colada morada Corn beer Corn tea Corn whiskey Mazamorra Pinolillo Pozol Tejate Tejuino Tesgüino --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Corn kernel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_kernel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_kernel?action=history)). 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