  The irreversible thermoremanent magnetization of a sole, magnetically diluted
epitaxial antiferromagnetic Co$_{1-y}$O(100) layer is determined by the mean of
its thermoremanent magnetizations at positive and negative remanence. During
hysteresis-loop field cycling, thermoremanent magnetization exhibits successive
reductions, consistent with the training effect (TE) of the exchange bias
measured for the corresponding Co$_{1-y}$O(100)/Co bilayer. The TE of exchange
bias is shown to have its microscopic origin in the TE of the irreversible
thermoremanent magnetization of the magnetically diluted AFM.
