-1-

SWEET CORN PERFORMANCE TESTS, 1949 1/

by Glenn M. Smith
Botany and Plant Pathology

Mimeograph No. BP 43.
Purdue University Agricultural
Experiment Station

The 1949 sweet corn performance tests included experimental hybrids
developed in the sweet corn project and commercial hybrids obtained from
seedsmen. An attempt was made, to conduct parallel plantings at Lafayette
and at the Purdue Muck Farm near North Liberty, Indiana.
Table 1 presents a list of the commercial varieties planted at
the two localities, showing the name and location of the seedsmen, variety
name, type, and stock number, where given.
It was the intention to conduct these trials on a strictly commercial
basis. Most of the samples were treated with a seed disinfectant by the
company which supplied them. Seed which was not dusted was treated with Arasan.
For this reason three kernels were planted per hill and no correction for
stand was made in reporting yields. In other words, the results are based on stands such as a grower might expect from a uniform drop of three kernels
per hill.
In the Lafayette trials all samples were replicated four times in
double rows 10 hills long, checked 3 1/3 x 3 1/3 feet. Data on these trials
include rank based on yield, variety and source, days from planting to
harvest, yield green corn in dozens and tons per acre, and average weight per
ear.
In addition to the above data complete plant and ear descriptions
are given in sub-tables. The measurements include plant and ear height, range
of silking dates, average number of suckers, number ears per plant, lengthy
of shank, huske.: and ear, shape of ear, number kernel rows, silk color inside
the husks, and relative kernel depth.
There were 5 groups in the Lafayette trials as follows:	Early Yellow hybrids, yellow experimental hybrids, yellow midseason hybrids, white commercial
and experimental hybrids and 10 yellow and white hybrids furnished by
Associated Seed Growers which were received too late to be assigned to the
proper group. All lots were planted in one field and except for slight irregular-
ities in soil topography were fairly comparable in growth and development.
Early Yellow Hybrids:	(Tables 2 and 2a).
This group, with the exception of Golden Glory, includes commercial
hybrids which are earlier than Golden Cross Bantam, which is normally ready
for harvest in 83 to 88 days. Hoosier Gold, developed at the Purdue Agricultural
Experiment Station, was included for comparison with existing early commercial
hybrids. It is about a week earlier than Golden Cross Bantam, has a longer
1/ Conducted in cooperation with the Division of Cereal Crops and Diseases,
Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural
Research Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Trials on muck land
were conducted in cooperation with Mr. N. K. Ellis, of the Purdue Department
of Horticulture.