Rodger Whitlock wrote: It is my understanding that monocot roots do not branch if the growing tip is injured, unlike dicots. Injure a monocot root and the damage can only be made good by an altogether new root growing from the basal plate (or equivalent organ) -- and that may not happen until next growing season. Hence the need to be much more careful with monocot seedlings, to handle them much more gently. I was surprised to read that. From everything I’ve read, Monocots always abort the radicle root, and depend entirely upon an adventitious root system. So, cutting the first root may be a non-issue as long as the adventitious system has started. Again, my understanding is that the adventitious system is initiated shortly after germination.