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Acceptance of supersweet types of corn is hindered due to reduced field emergence in cold soils. Reduced emergence is related to seed endosperm composition and imbibitional leaching of seed components. Seeds of two supersweet cultivars (Illini Gold and Honey'n'Pearl) with shrunken-2 endosperm were examined for differences in percent germination and days to 25% germination at 10, 15, and 20 C. Seed leachate from seeds imbibed at 10, 15, and 20 C was analyzed for electrical conductivity, sugars, and amino acids. Germination percentages were higher for `Illini Gold' than for `Honey'n'Pearl' at all temperatures, and higher at 20 than 10 C for both cultivars. `Illini Gold' germinated sooner than `Honey'n'Pearl' at all temperatures. Electrical conductivity was higher for `Honey'n'Pearl' than `Illini Gold', and higher at 20 than 10 C for both cultivars. At all temperatures, sugars and amino acids in seed leachate were higher for `Honey'n'Pearl' that for `Illini Gold', but no significant temperature effects were observed. Imbibitional leakage of ions, sugars, and amino acids was more dependent upon cultivar than temperature.