Abstract
We investigated the agronomic performance of super-sweet corn genotypes. Super-sweet corn genotypes were backcrossed with regionally adapted field varieties (CIMMYT 8 and Piranão 8). Eight morphological and yield-related traits were evaluated. A significant effect of interaction was observed between the five groups of genotypes (donor parents; super-sweet backcrossed parents; super-sweet intervarietal hybrids; common intervarietal corn hybrids; and field corn populations). Despite the low yield of genotype SH2Piranão, the hybrids resulting from interbreeding of the backcrossed parents for the improvement of super-sweet corn were promising. The agronomic performance of the super-sweet parents and their hybrids indicates the possibility of breeding lines with high genetic value to obtain single-cross hybrids and cultivars of super-sweet corn adapted to the northern region of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Highlights
Sweet corn (Zea mays L.), considered a vegetable, is a special type of corn with particular characteristics, such as sweet taste, thin pericarp and endosperm with delicate texture, and a high nutritional value (Kwiatkowski and Clemente 2007)
The donor parents character super-sweet, super-sweet genotypes resulting from backcross and their intervarietal hybrids were assessed Besides these intervarietal hybrids six genotypes originating from reciprocal recurrent selection program for corn Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF) common were evaluated, namely the varieties CIMMYT 8, Piranão 8, CIMMYT 12 and Piranão 12, and two interpopulation hybrids of field corn, CIMMYT 8 x Piranão 8 and CIMMYT 12 x Piranão 12, with a total of 16 treatments
The field corn varieties used as recurrent parents differed significantly in the traits YIELD, EL, ED, number of ears per plot (NEP), and number of ears attacked by pests (NEAP), indicating differences in yield among the evaluated populations, which may be directly related to the number of recurrent selection cycles applied to these genotypes
Summary
Sweet corn (Zea mays L.), considered a vegetable, is a special type of corn with particular characteristics, such as sweet taste, thin pericarp and endosperm with delicate texture, and a high nutritional value (Kwiatkowski and Clemente 2007). It is destined exclusively for human consumption, in fresh form or in processed foods, whereas the straw can be used for silage after harvest (Teixeira et al 2001). In Brazil, sweet corn is grown on an estimated 36 million ha annually, with an average yield of 10 - 12 tons of ears. The expression of the super-sweet trait in corn is coupled with undesirable characteristics, e.g., reduced germination and low resistance to pests and diseases (Oliveira Júnior et al 2006)
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