Analyzing the role of sowing and harvest time as factors for selecting super sweet (−sh2sh2) corn hybrids

Abstract

Providing suitable environment for high-kernel sweetness and yield is important for successful commercialization of sweet corn hybrids. Twenty five super sweet corn genotypes were evaluated at three-sowing and -harvest dates. Genotype, sowing- and harvest- time had significant influence on kernel sweetness accounting 33.8%, 9.1% and 3.9% of total variation, respectively. Genotype × sowing time, genotype × harvest time and genotype × sowing time × harvest time interactions contributed 13.8%, 8.2% and 18.9% of total variation, respectively. Kernel brix across genotypes ranged from 16.1–25.5%. Sixty eight per cent of the hybrids attained highest brix in third sowing compared to 12% and 16% in first and second sowing, respectively. Sixty four per cent of the genotypes attained peak in brix at 24-DAP (days after pollination), while 24% and 12% genotypes had highest brix at 20-DAP and 28-DAP, respectively. Genotypes with stable brix across sowingand harvest-time have been identified. Sowing time also had significant influence on anthesis, cob- and fodderyield. Late sowing favoured kernel sweetness and cob yield. Cob- and fodder- yield possessed positive correlation, but did not show any association with kernel sweetness. The information generated here holds immense significance in the genetic improvement of sweet corn.