/i~



Everglades Station Mimeo Report EES64-16 January 1964

HORTICULTURAL TRIALS WITH SWEET CORN HYBRIDS
V. L. Guzman ,


Two types of tests were conducted: 1, observational and 2, rEied. The
observational trial or screening stage serves to eliminate those varieties which
offer no possibility for the fresh market. Hybrids were planted in single rows
with no replications. The most promising lines of the observational were elevated
to the replicated trials for further study. In these, varieties are compared in
special designs and a reliable measure of their possibilities is treated statis-
tically.

Character of the weather during the trials

The sweet corn trials were conducted from February 15 to May 15, 1963.
February was a relatively wet month with over 3 inches of rainfall and heavy winds.
Temperatures were below normal and a light freeze occurred February 21 which did
not hurt the experiment. March temperatures were above normal and precipitation
was low. A light freeze occurred again on the morning of March 23rd, but no serious
damage was visible on the experimental crop. April temperatures were high and pre-
cipitation was low. Sufficient water was supplied through sub-irrigation and the
crops made good growth.

Location, planting and harvest dates.

Horticulture experiments 475 and 475A- spring yellow sweet corn replicated
and observational trials respectively were seeded February 15, 1963 at Duda and
Sons farm, field NR19, and harvested May 1-13,1963, depending on maturity of the
variety.

Field plot technique

Plots were single rows 40 feet long and 34 inches apart with 30 feet harvest
row. Three to 4 seeds were dropped in hills 8 inches apart. When plants were
6-8 inches high they were thinned to one plant per hill by cutting out extra plants
at ground level. Only 30 feet of each row were harvested for yields. In the
replicated experiment, randomized blocks with six replications were employed.
Varieties were compared by the single degree of freedom method.

Fertility conditions

Soil analysis for experiments 475 and 475A showed an average pH of 6.1 and
28 pounds of soluble phosphorus and 227 of potassium. No fertilizer was supplied
to the corn crop, since the amounts by the soil analysis showed to be sufficient.
Celery was the first crop of the season, followed by sweet corn.

Control of weeds, diseases and insects.

Weeds were controlled by three mechanical cultivations. In addition, one
hand weeding in the row was necessary. Routine control of diseases and insects
was done by the farmer co-operator. The control of diseases and insects was good.








Data obtained

Yield data

I Total weight of fresh ears.
II Weight in pounds of U. S. Fancy and U. S. No. 1 ears.
III Number of U. S. Fancy and No. 1 ears, and estimated crates per acre.
IV Weight in pounds of U. S. No. 2 ears.
V Number of U. S. No. 2 ears.
VI Percent U. S. Fancy ears.

Growth characteristics

VII Days to reach maturity.
VIII Flag length.
IX Husk color.
X Husk over tip.
XI Ear length.
XII Ear diameter.
XIII Unfilled ear tip.
XIV Number of rows.

Other observations

XV Number of plants harvested and estimated number of marketable ears
per plant.
XVI Taste (raw ear).
XVII Appearance of husked ear.

Key for Hybrid Sweet Corn Tables

Source of seed: Name of company or individual supplying the seed; ASG Asgrow
Seed, Milford, Conn.; Cor. Corneli Seed Co., St. Louis 2, Mo.; EES. Everglades
Experiment Station (Wolf), Belle Glade, Florida; F.M. Ferry Morse Seed Co.,
Salines, California; J.H. Joseph Harris Seed Co., Rochester, N.Y.; Rob Robson
Seed Farms, Hall, N.Y.; Rog Rogers Bros. Seed Co., Caldwell, Idaho. SRS= Seed
Research Specialists Gilroy, California; Hol= Holmes Seed Co., Canton, Ohio; Bur -
W. Atlee Burpee Co., Philadelphia, Pa.; A.C. Abbott and Cobb, Philadelphia, Pa.;


Days to maturity: Number of days from planting to harvest estimated by examining
10 ears and determining the day when the majority will reach optimum market maturity.

Husk over ear: Approximate length of the husk over the tip of the ear. A 1- indi-
cates that the husk is shorter than one inch. 1+ indicates the husk is longer than
one inch.

Flag length: Estimated as mean flag length of 10 ears. L = longer than 6".
M = between 3" and 6". S = short less than 3".

Husk color: Based on intensity of green color. D = dark green; M-D = medium dark
green; M = medium green; L-M = light to medium green; L = light green.

Ear length (inches): Mean ear length of 10 randomly selected marketable husked ears
per variety and replication.







3.

Ear diameter (cm): Mean ear diameter of 10 husked ears, measured about 2.5 inches
from the butt ear per variety and replication.

Unfilled ear tip (inches): Mean length of unfilled tip of 10 randomly selected
marketable ears per plot.

Number of rows (majority): Number of rows of 10 randomly selected ears and re-
ported as a majority number.

Number of plants harvested: Number of plants producing ears in a 30 foot row.
e n r of e p p Total number of U.S. Fancy and #1 ears
Marketable number of ears per plant: Number of plants harvested
Number of plants harvested

Blight index: Helminthosporium turcicum leaf blight rating on unsprayed plants.
Zero no blight; 5 severe blight (E. A. Wolf).

Percentage U. S. Fancy ears: Number of U. S. Fancies in a 10 ear sample taken at
random from the marketable ear class per variety and replication, reported as
percent.

Tons per acre: Estimated from the total weight of U. S. Fancy and No. 1 ears.

Taste: One man's opinion on eatability of the ears judged from the taste of raw
fresh kernels. P = poor; F = fair and G = good.

Appearance: One man's opinion on the husked looks of the ears. P = poor; F =
fair and G = good.

The plus (+) indicates slightly superior rating. The minus sign (-) indicates
slightly inferior rating.








Results

Tables 1 and 2 present tabulated data on performance of the varieties in
these tests. Significance of the single degree comparisons are given in the text.

Marketable yield of U.S. Fancy in pounds for variety 106 was significantly
better than 106A, indicating that 106 produced larger ears. Appearance of 106A
was also slightly inferior to 106. The new varieties, Floribelle and XP277, are
quite tolerant to leaf blight and produced similar weight of ears but their com-
bined yield was significantly better than the standard varieties 106, 107, and 104.
The new hybrids, however, do not have the fine appearance of the checks. Among
the early hybrids Northern Belle outyielded Honey Gold significantly, although the
blight index of Northern Belle is higher than that of Honey Gold. The other
varieties in the replicated trials offer little promise of being equal or close
to the checks.

When number of U.S. Fancy ears were considered, differences between 106 and
106A were not significant. Floribelle produced significantly greater number of
Fancy ears than XP277 and the two varieties combined yielded also better than the
checks. Among the early hybrids, Northern Belle outyielded Honey Gold in number
of U.S. Fancy ears.

In the observational trials, no hybrid was superior in appearance to the,
checks; however, the following are considered worthy of the replicated trials:
23-3107-FM, 24-184-60-FM, 26-187/60 FM, 49-R 23132-Rog., 67-2090-SRS and
71-33.36-SRS.


























EES Mimeo Rpt. 64-16
350 copies









Table 1. Yellow Sweet Corn Variety Trials Conducted on the Farm
May 1 -13, 1963. (Replicated experiment 475).


Varieties


104
106
106-A
107
Floribelle
Honey Gold
988-17
Southern Belle
Northern Belle
832
C 85a2
xP 266
XP 277
MK-13


Rob
FM
FM
FM
SRS
Hol
ASG
JH
JH
JH
EES
ASG
ASG
Rob


rA
rl


M
M
L
L
L
L
M
S
S
L
M
M-L
L
L


o

H
0
a)


a)
a)
C,
.1-



H


7.8
7.7
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.5
8.2
8.3
7.6
8.3
7.8
7.1
8.0
8.2


a)


4.42
4.40
4.32
4.27
4.57
4.26
4.33
4.38
4.39
4.49
4.47
4.32
4.29
4.54


.1I
p.
*1-
5.
3


0.5
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.4
1.0
1.5
0.2
0.6


*1-

5.
0
*1



0


14
14-16
14
14
16
12
16
14
14
14
14
14
14-16
14


of A. Duda and Sons, Belle Glade. Harvested


I,

a)
a)
f-


1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.0
1.1
0.8
1.0
1.1


x
a)-


4.5
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.5
2.5
1.5
1.0
3.5
1.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5


161
179
153
147
183
140
189
188
177
156
154
111
171
167


325
359
333
342
393
307
384
410
376
307
333
256
350
333


6.87
7.64
6.53
6.27
7.81
5.98
8.07
8.02
7.56
6.66
6.58
4.74
7.30
7.13


183.1
185.4
157.6
154.9
203.2
165.3
225.8
217.8
199.8
162.7
162.1
133.6
175.6
187.5


_ __


varieties









Table 2. Observational Trials of Yellow Hybrid Sweet Corn Conducted at A. Duda & Sons Farm,
Harvested May 1 to May 13, 1963.


Variety


G. Security
Silver Queen
Silverliner
C 9943
C 344A
E 3104
E 3105
E 3106
E 3107
184/60
186/60
187/60
188/60
190/60
191/60
194/60
SF-63-1
sF-63-2
SF-63-3
D 1062


a4


o
10


i-
I


*4
to


C)

(d


C',

U


4,

*i


4)


rd
a
t


v4


to


Belle Glade.


t- I E 4 4 E 4 ---~. L L _____ ________


ASG
Rog
Cor
EES
EES
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
Bur

Jur
JH


4.0
3.5
4.0
2.0
2.0
4.5
3.0
3.5
2.5
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
4.0
3.5
4.5
3.5


27.3
25.3
21.8
28.0
28.8
35.0
24.5
25.3
28.0
22.5
27.5
22.0
27.0
28.3
24.5
30.8
29.0
22.3
29.0
29.3


25.8
20.0
20.5
25.5
28.8
33.8
23.8
22.3
26.8
21.8
27.5
22.0
26.0
28.3
24.0
29.5
28.0
21.8
27.3
29.3


350
273
239
393
436
350
299
290
281
290
325
281
325
367
290
350
333
316
376
342


4.20
4.30
4.50
4.151
3.95
4.45
3.95
4.30
4.60
4.40
4.50
4.20
4.45
4.50
4.35
4.45
4.55
4.25
4.60
4.45


7.8
8.0
7.9
7.3
7.6
7.4
7.8
7.8
8.6
7.6
7.5
7.7
7.6
7.2
7.3
7.6
8.2
7.2
8.0
7.7


1.5
0.4
0.1
1.5
0.2
0.4
0.3
1.5
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.2*
0.4
0.5
0.4
0.2
1.0
0.5
0.8
1.0


M
L
L
L
M
M
L
S-M
M
M
M
L
M
S
L
M
M-L
S
M
M


1+
1
1 tol-
l+
1+
1+
1+

1+
1+
1+
1-1+

1+
1+
1+
1+
1+
1+
1+
1+
1+
1-I


16
14
12
12
12-14
16
12
18
14
16
16
16
16
16

16
14
14
16
14


15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.


' "








Table 2 (continued)












Variety ,
35. B 12 J- 4.0 27.0 23.3 9 342 90 36 4.45 76 0.2 M 4+ D 16 + -
SH H 4
a a a co









38. xP286 A ASG 3.5 25.5 43 23.8 2 367 60 35 4.55 7.3 0.4 S 1- DG 18 F- F
39. xP 284 Aso 1.5 8.3 13 8.3c 0 111 8 M + F
x 286 AS 2. 1.1 9.33 70 19 .5 7.2 .6 L + D 16 F-



42. XP 282 ASo 4.0 34.0 2 334 0 359 80 42 4.50 8.0 0.7 L D 18 F+ F+










48. R 22653 Ros 5.0 3k.o 49 28.3 418 i0 40 4.15 8.1 1.0 M i DG 14 F P
20, i 43 .





50. R 22136 Rog 4.0 37.5 49 3l.8 2 418 80 36 4.50 8.3 0.9 L i+ D 14 F P
36. H 12 JR 3.0 33.8 50 31.5 3 427 60 384 3.5 87. 1.o S I+ G 14 F F
37. R 1052 JRo 3.5 36.0 51 33.0 2 436 20 437 4.45 7.8 1.0 M 1+ DO 14 F+ P
38. xP286A ASG 3.5 25.5 43 23.8 2 367 60 35 4.55 7.3 0.4 S 1- DG 18 F- F
39. XP 284 ASG 1.5 8.3 13 8.3 0 11l -8 M 1+ DG F
40. XP 286 ASG 2.0 14.1 14 9.3 3 120 70 19 4.45 7.2 0.6 L 1+ DG 16 F- F
41. XP 287 ASG 3.5 23.4 31 21.1 2 265 40 34 3.90 8.0 1.1 L 1 DG 12 F P
42. XP 282 ASG 4.0 34.0 42 33.4 0 359 80 42 4.50 8.0 0.7 L 1- DG 18 F+ F+
43. XP 283 ASG 4.0 21.5 33 20.0 3 281 60 34 4.35 7.5 0.7 M 1I DG 16 F F
44. XP 285 ASG 3.5 24.5 34 24.5 0 290 60 34 4.40 7.8 0.5 M 1+ DOG 18 F P
45. XP 223 ASG 4.0 25.0 35 22.8 3 299 30 34 4.30 7.9 0.5 L 1+ DG 16 F P
46. R21978 Rog 5.0 24.5 33 22.5 2 281 30 34 4.25 7.7 1.0 M 1+ DG 16 F+ P
47. R22696 Rog 5.0 28.3 37 22.3 7 316 20 39 4.25 7.9 1.3 M 1+ MG l6 F P
48. R 22653 Rog 5.0 34.0 49 28.3 4 418 10 40 4.15 8.1 1.0 M 1 DG 14 F P
49. R 23132 Rog 3.5 30.0 39 27.8 2 333 90 35 4.30 8.0 0.5 ML 1++ DG l6 F+ F+
50. HR 22136 Rog 4.0 37.5 49 34.8 2 418 80 34 4.50 8.3 0.9 L 1+ DG 14 F P
51. R 22696 Rog 5.0 25.5 32 17.5 10 273 10 34 3.95 7.0 1.0 s 1+ MG 14 F+ P
52. R 12796 Rog 3.0 41.8 58 36.3 7 495 70 37 4.30 7.5 1.0 M 1+ DG 16 F+ P








Table 2 (continued)





O to d

0 A d 0
St> 0
. H '4 ,





a 0
SVariety
O T- *l $4 o p p a P U o4



53.* 18c(white) AxC 4.5 15.5 22 14.0 1 188 30 18 4.50 7.6 1.0. M 1 DG F P
54. 182-2 AXC 3.0 28.0 39 25.5 3 333 90 33 4.65 7.4 0.2 M 1+ DG 14 F- F
55. 191S-1 AxC 4.5 27.0 37 25.5 0 316 90 39 4.40 7.6 0.3 L 1+ DG 16 F- F+
56. 191S-2 AxC 5.0 32.3 35 30.5 2 299 80 36 4.90 8.6 0.6 S 1- PG 14 F F-
57. 182S AxC 4.0 30.3 42 30.3 0 359 80 37 4.30 7.8 0.3 M 1++ DG 14-16 F F+
58. KVF62-201 Cor 4.0 27.0 38 26.0 0 .325 60 39 4.80 8.0 1.5 S 1+ Mo 16 F- P
59. KF 62-300 Cor 5.0 23.0 36 22.5 1. 307 40 37 4.25 7.1 0.9 M 1+ MG 14 F+ P
60. KVF 62-93L Cor 4.5 35.5 45 30.5 6 384 60 39 4.55 7.7 0.7 S 1 PG 16 F+ P
61. 62-301 Cor 4.5 25.0 35. 24.5 0 299 33 4.10 7.4 1.5 L 1+ DG 16 F+ P
62. 10-5187 Hol 5.0 25.0 34 24.5 1 1290 10 33 4.70 7.7 1.5 M 1++ DG 18 F. F-
63. Eclipse imp Hoi 4.5 26.5 39 26.0 1 333 70 40 '4.45 7.4 0.8 M. 1+ MG 16. F- F
64. c-2091 SRS 4.0 31.3 40 29.0 2 342 60 34 4.75 8.0 1.0 L 1+ DG 16 F+ P
65. Silver Cross
Bantam(vhite) SRS 4.5 30.5 41 30.5 0 350 40 40 4.70 7.8 0.5 L 1+ MG 14 F+ P
66. Cross SRS 4.5 35.8 46 33.8 2 393 70 35 4.80 8.0 0.8 M 1+ DG 18 F P
67. C-2090 SRS 2.5 29.0 40 28.0 1 342 80 36 4.55 7.7 0.4 M 1+ DG 16 F F+
68. c-2098 SRS 5.0 31.8 37 26.3 5 316 60 40 4.40 6.5 0.4 L 1+ D 14 F P
69. Freshgold SRS 2.0 33.3 46 33.3 0 393 80 34 4.30 7.3 0.6 L 1+ DG 16 F+ F
70. Staygold SRS 3.5 32.6 47 30.6 1 401 80 39 4.45 7.6 1.0 L 1+ DG 16 F+ P
71. 33.73 SRS 3.0 24.5 34 21.5 6 290 90 29 4.40 8.1 0.2 L 1-1+ DG 16 F F+
72. 33.36 SRS 4.0 40.5 45 37.8 2 384 70 37 4.90 8.8 1.0 M 1 DG 16 F F
73. Illinois Super
Sweet Ill. 4.0 22.5 30 20.5 1 256 30 32 4.60 7.9 1.2 M 1- DG 14-16 F+ F
Poor germination.