At what point does a nut stop contributing to the seedling?

[IndiLina]

I was transplanting a black walnut seedling I had grown from seed, and when positioning it, I inadvertently popped off the 'nut' from the seedling. At what point does the nut stop providing to the growth of the seedling? Will it harm a seedling at this stage (pictured below) if the nut is detached? 
Not that this seedling is super valuable or anything, but this made me curious. 

Thanks in advance. 

[Ianab]

Not an expert, but at that stage I'd say the roots and leaves are well established, and the seedling doesn't need the nut any more. The nutrients in the nut are used to form the initial stem, leaves and roots. Once those are formed and working the nut's job is done, and it's possible it fell off because it was due to detach. 

It wouldn't be a black and white cut-off either, at some point loosing the nut would only inconvenience the seedling, it might still make it, but be smaller and slower getting established

[Ljohnsaw]

Doesn't loosing the nut early make it sterile? 😆


Somebody had to say it.