Charles A. Mullins and Marshall Smith

The highest yield, tallest plants, and longest ears were produced by ‘HMX 5349 WES’. ‘Sweet Riser’ produced relatively low yields and small ears compared to the other cultivars.

Sweet Breed corn is a relatively new type of sweet corn for fresh market usage. The first Sweet Breed cultivars that were released performed well, and additional cultivars have been developed. Cultivars evaluated previously had high yields of large ears, and flavor was excellent. Several Sweet Breed type cultivars are recommended for production in Tennessee. An experiment was conducted at the Ames Plantation at Grand Junction TN in 2000 to evaluate performance of five Sweet Breed type sweet corn cultivars.

The site was prepared for planting using conventional tillage in late April. Fertilizer was broadcast at 600 lb/A of 15-15-15 before final disking on May 3. Plot size was one row, 20 ft long, and rows were spaced 30 inches apart. Seed of the cultivars was obtained from commercial seedsmen, and was planted on May 4 at the rate of 70 seed per row using a cone-type mechanical planter. Experimental plot design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Herbicides applied on May 5 were atrazine (Aatrex) at 1 lb ai/A and metolachlor (Dual II) at 2 lb ai/A. Insecticides were applied on a 3 to 5 day frequency and included esfenvalerate (Asana) at 0.05 lbai/A and lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior T) at 0.03 lb ai/A.

Records taken included plant stand, plant height, ear height, ear diameter, number and weight of ears, ear length, ear diameter, external ear appearance, internal ear appearance, % fill, and ear cover. All data were analyzed by analysis of variance procedures, and cultivar means were separated by Duncan’s multiple range tests at the 0.05 level of probability.

Plant stand of all cultivars was slightly below the target level of 23,500 plants per acre, but was not significantly different due to cultivar (Table 1). Plants of ‘HMX 5349WES’ were taller than plants of all other cultivars. Plants of ‘HMX 5349WES’ had ears set higher above ground than plants of all cultivars except ‘HMX 6357BSB’. Yield of ‘HMX 5349WES’ was higher than yield of all other cultivars. ‘Sweet Riser’ had a lower yield than all other cultivars. Ears of ‘HMX 5349WES’ weighed less than ears of all cultivars except ‘HMX 6357BSB’. "Sweet Riser’ had the lightest ears.

Ear diameter, shuck cover, internal appearance, and external appearance ratings were not significantly different due to cultivar (Table 2). Ears of ‘HMX 5349WES’ were longer than ears of all cultivars except ‘HMX 6357BSB’. Ear fill was rated higher for ‘Sweet Symphony’ and ‘Sweet Riser’ than for the other cultivars.

Table 1. Plant characteristics and yield of Sweet Breed type sweet corn cultivars evaluated at The University of Tennessee Ames Plantation at Grand Junction, 2000.