Abstract
Fungi can colonize senescent sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa Bonaf.) tissue. Senescence levels of tissues can be rated. Effects of four planting dates on senescence of standard (su, cv. Merit), and supersweet (sh2, cv. Florida Staysweet) corn at fresh market and seed harvest were determined. Stalk senescence was affected by cultivar (sh2 < su) and planting date (earliest was lowest). Shank senescence was affected by cultivar (fresh market < seed harvest) and planting date (lowest for plants of the earliest and latest plantings). Cob senescence was not affected by cultivar, slightly lower at fresh market than seed harvest, and lower for plants of the later than earlier planting dates. In a second experiment senescence was rated during development of sh2 cultivars. Formation of reproductive structures increased senescence rate. Cultivar had little effect on stalk and cob senescence at fresh market harvest. The cv. `Honey'n Pearl' had the lowest shank senescence rating. Delayed senescence should be incorporated in to corn genotypes.
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