2004 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

 

This project is supported in part by the Ohio Vegetable and Small Fruit Research and Development Program.

 

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 2004 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 bi-color and white se planting was on April 30 in Canal Winchester, OH. Bi-color sh2’s were planted on May 17. In Canal Winchester, all bicolor and white se and sh2 were 4 row ~500 foot plots. 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 25 in New Albany, Plots were four rows at approximately 1000 feet or larger and received 120 lbs/A of actual nitrogen. Atrazine and Bullet were used for weed control. All se varieties were planted no-till at this location. The last planting was on May 27 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.

Data collected from all locations included emergence, plant and ear characteristics and marketable yield. Sweetness was determined by a purely subjective evaluation of raw eating quality. Each variety was also evaluated for percent germination at ten different temperatures on the thermo-gradient table and the saturated salt accelerated aging test.

 

Results

Twelve sh2’s and 9 se’s were included in this year’s trial.

 

In the se’s, maturity ranged from 70 to 88 days. Percent plant stand was 90 percent or greater for the varieties planted at Canal Winchester and Celeryville. Percent germination of the no-till se varieties ranged from 74 to 80% (see Table 2) with only 4 varieties below 70 % germination (Trinity, Precious Gem, Cinderella and Eureka). Plant vigor ratings at Celeryville paralleled % germination of no-till se’s at New Albany. Overall, varieties with good germination had good plant vigor. The SSAA test in table 3 is a good predictor of vigor under stress conditions and yield performance.

 

The best plant vigor in the se’s and sh2’s were: Nantasket, Polka, Nauset, Precious Gem, BC 0805, Ogunquit, Mirai 308BC, ACX 725BC, Mirai 301BC and Mirai 117Y.

 

The best bicolor se varieties in terms of yield, ear characteristics and flavor were Precious Gem and BC0805. Polka and Trinity had good flavor and earliness but yield and ear size may not be be desirable. Nantasket is of medium to good quality and Nauset has undesirable ear characteristics.

 

Only one white se, Cinderella, was evaluated and yield varied from low to high depending on location. Kernals were tender and flavor was evaluated from medium to good. Ear size and appearance was generally acceptable. Whiteout, evaluated last year, might be a better choice since it had good yields with ears measuring 7.7 inches. Flavor was ranked good to very good at three locations.

 

Two yellow se’s were evaluated at two locations. Ogunquit was the best producing large ears and high yields. Flavor was good and kernels were nice and tender.

 

Seven bicolor sh2’s were evaluated this year. Plant stand was greater than 80% or higher at most locations except for ACX1022 B. A late May planting followed by frequent rain and wet heavy soils reduced plant stands of  Mirai 327 and Tango. Yield at all three locations was good except for ACX 1022 BC and ACX642AW. Flavor was rated as good or very good with all varieties. Some cultivars have a sweet, crunchy kernel texture and others have a slightly tough pericarp. See the ear characteristics tables for each location. Except in a few instances and locations, the Mirai types had good plant stand and yields. Flavor was rated as very good to excellent. Some of the newer types available are earlier than previous varieties. Tango had kernels with a slightly tough pericarp but could be used for roadside markets by picking it a few days early.

 

WSS 0987is the best of the three white sh2 varieties with good yields and a sweet crunchy flavor. WSS 0987 is an Attribute corn producing ears that are 7.2 inches long and 1.8 inches wide. The color is slightly off-white but growers feel this is not a problem.

 

In the yellow sh2 category. Mirai 117Y and Mini Mirai 003 were evaluated at three locations. Plant stand for Mirai 117Y varied from 85 to 100 per cent depending on location. Plant stand was much lower with Mini Mirai 003 because this was one year old seed. Mirai 117Y produces high yields of 7.5 to 8 inch ears. Flavor was rated as very good. Mini Mirai 003 variety produces 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. This product is not being offered in the future.

 

 

 

Table 1. List of Sweet Corn Varieties Evaluated in 2004

 

ID #

NAME

Gene

Color

Days

Company

 

SE's

 

 

 

 

1

Trinity

se

Bi

70 (1190)

Crookham

2

Nantasket

se

Bi

70-73

MM R

3

Polka

se

Bi

70

MM R

4

Nauset

se syngeristic

Bi

80

Mesa Maize

5

Precious Gem

se

Bi

80

Mesa Maize

6

BC 0805

seg F1

Bi

82

Rogers

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

Cinderella

se syngeristic

White

80 (1360)

Crookham

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

Eureka (MXH 30407)

se

Y

73

Mesa Maize

9

Ogunquit

Se Syngergistic

Y

79

Mesa Maize

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SH2's

 

 

 

 

10

Mirai 308BC

sh2

Bi

71

Centest

11

Mirai 327

sh2

Bi

73

Centest

12

Double Up

seg F1 supersweet

Bi

73

Rogers

13

ACX 725BC

sh2

Bi

75

AC

14

Mirai 301BC

sh2

Bi

76

Centest

15

ACX 1022BC

sh2

Bi

78-79

AC

16

Tango

sh2

Bi

84 (1428)

Crookham

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

ACX 1075W

sh2

White

78

AC

18

WSS 0987 Vp

sh2

White

81

Rogers

19

ACX 642AW

sh2

White

82

AC

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

Mirai 117Y

sh2

Y

70

Centest

21

Mirai 003 mini

sh2

Y

72

Centest