2003 Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation

Canal Winchester, OH

Muck Crops Branch, Celeryville, OH

New Albany, OH

 

 

 

Bob Precheur, Rick Callendar, Jim Doran, David Schacht, Ted Smith, Dennis Ash and Herminio Perez

 

Extension Vegetable Crops Specialist, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Manager, Muck Crops Branch, Celeryville, OH, Grower Cooperaters: New Albany, OH, Canal Winchester, OH, and Muck Crops Branch Staff

 

Contact Information:  Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science

The Ohio State University

2001 Fyffe Ct.

Columbus, OH 43210

614-292-3857

email: precheur.1@osu.edu

 

Sweet Corn is Ohio's number one fresh market vegetable with between 15,000 to 17,000 acres planted depending on the year. In the US, Ohio ranks 6th in fresh market sweet corn production.

Sweet corn is produced throughout OH, in the southeast along the Ohio River, in many counties around Cincinnati, and also throughout central and northern OH.

 

Objectives

To identify sweet corn cultivars with good emergence, high marketable yield and excellent quality under OH growing conditions.

 

Methods  

Three plantings were established in 2003 for evaluation of sweet corn cultivars that included  two plantings at vegetable farms in the Columbus area and one at the OARDC Muck Crops branch in Celeryville, OH. The first planting was on May 14 in Canal Winchester, OH. All bicolor and yellow were 4 row 500 foot plots. White se and Sh2 plots were 4 row at 1000 feet or longer. Total nitrogen applied was 110 lbs of actual nitrogen per acre. For weed control, Dual was applied followed by one cultivation. The second planting was on May 19 in Celeryville, OH on muck soil. Eighty five pounds of actual N/acre was applied pre-plant. Laddock was applied post-planting in 2 applications. Sweet corn plots consisted of 4 rows, 30 in apart and 25 ft long, later shortened to 20 ft. Plots are arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The middle two rows are used for data collection. The last planting was on May 27 in New Albany, OH. Plots were four rows at 1000 feet or larger and received 120 lbs/A of actual nitrogen. Atrazine and Bullet were used for weed control. Data collected from all locations included emergence, plant and ear characteristics and marketable yield.

 

Results

Fourteen sh2’s and 9 se’s were included in this year’s trial. The seed for Mirai 301 BC was from a bad seed lot and there was 0% germination at all three locations. Also, no data was collected for variety #8 due to a source error.

 

In the bicolor se’s, maturity ranged from 70 to 81 days. Percent plant stand was 70 to 80 percent for the early maturing varieties and in the high 90’s for later maturing varieties. Plant vigor paralleled days to maturity with only fair ratings for early maturing and a ranking of 8 or 9 out of 10 for later maturing varieties. At a May 14th planting, Temptation planted at the same time had 100 % plant stand and superior plant vigor (10) compared to all the varieties in the trial. Out of the seven bi-colors, HMX 0351 BES, Ambrosia and Brocade had the best plant vigor. A later May 28 planting resulted in better plant stands and improved plant vigor. For the early plantings, maturity was delayed about 6-9 days. Chippewa and Navajo were rated as having good flavor. Luscious and HMX 0351 BES were rated good to very good. Ambrosia and Brocade had some tip fill problems. Brocade flavor was rated as medium or bland.

 

Two white se’s evaluated both had excellent plant vigor and 100 % plant stand. Cloud Nine produced almost 8 inch ears but more than 80% of the ears had a significant tip fill problem and ‘bear paw’ (split or tendency for double ear at the tip). This problem was observed at all 3 trial locations. On the other hand, Whiteout had good yields with ears measuring 7.7 inches. Flavor was ranked good to very good at three locations.

 

Six bicolor sh2’s were evaluated this year. Two extra tender varieties 272A and 272A had greater than 90 % plant stand and good plant vigor. Only at our last planting where we had heavy rain and wet soils did plant stand and vigor suffer. Yield at all three locations was high. Flavor was rated as very good with crunchy kernels. With 272A, tip cover and husk tightness can be an issue. At one location, the ear pushed out above the husk and was susceptible to bird damage. There was a 30% yield loss at this location. Bird control devices had not yet been moved to this field location as maturity was earlier than expected. The problem was not seen at other locations but bird protection is recommended with these varieties. Varieties ACX 725 BC, ACX 1012 BC, Tango, BSS 9686 had good plant stand, vigor and yield. All had a very good or good flavor rating. ACX 1012 BC kernels were rated tender and crunchy. Tango and BSS 9686 had kernels with tough pericarps.

 

ACX 1068W and WSS 0986 are two white sh2’s with nearly 100% plant stand and good vigor. WSS 0986 is an Attribute corn with very high yields of 2,051 marketable dozen per acre. Ears are 7 inches long and 2 inches wide. The color is slightly off-white but growers feel this is not a problem. The flavor is good with sweet kernels and tough pericarps.

 

In the yellow sh2 category. Mirai 005, 002 and Mini Mirai 003 were evaluated at three locations. Plant stand varied from 30 to 98 per cent depending on location. A very cool and wet spring affected vigor and plant stand. The strongest in terms of plant stand and vigor was Mini Mirai 003. This variety produces high yields of 6 to 7 inch ears about 2 inches in diameter. Tight husks over the tips form a nice package. Flavor is excellent. Mini Mirai 003 is ideal for customers looking for alternatives to large ears, restaurants and other specialty markets. Mirai 002 is similar to Mirai 005 in yield and excellent quality. Mirai 005 was 3-6 days earlier than Mirai 002 but seemed to have less vigor. There is a tendency to pick the Mirai varieties before they reach peak flavor

 

 

 

Table 1. List of Sweet Corn Varieties Evaluated in 2003

 

 

NAME

Gene

Color

Days

Notes

Company

 

SH2's

 

 

 

 

 

1

Mirai 005

sh2

Y

74 days

 

Centest

2

Mirai Mini 003

sh2

Y

74 days

 

Centest

3

Mirai 002

sh2

Y

76

 

Centest

4

GSS 5771 VP

sh2

Y

82

 

Syngenta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

272A

sh2

Bi

72

 

Stokes

6

277A

sh2

BI

77

 

Stokes

7

Mirai 301 BC

sh2

Bi

78

 

Centest

8

Obsession

sh2

Bi

79

 

Stokes

9

ACX 725BC

sh2

BI

 

 

Abbott & Cobb

10

ACX 1012BC

sh2

BI

 

 

Abbott & Cobb

11

Tango

sh2

BI

84(1428)

 

Stokes

12

BSS 9686

sh2

Bi

84

 

Syngenta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

ACX 1068W

 

W

 

 

Abbott & Cobb

14

WSS 0986

sh2

W

82

Attribute

Syngenta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SE's

 

 

 

 

 

15

Chippewa

se

Bi

70-75

 

Stokes

16

Navajo

se

Bi

73

 

Stokes

17

Luscious TSW

se

Bi

73

 

Stokes

18

Bojangles

syn sesesh2sh2

Bi

74(1258)