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Maize Genomics and Genetics 2014, Vol.5, No.1, 1-6
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same season and were managed in a similar way in
RBD (Randomized Block Design) with three
replicates in
kharif
2010 and
rabi
2011-12. Each plot
consisted of two rows of 2.5 m length but 65 cm apart,
i.e. plot size was 3.25 m
2
for baby corn trial while it
was 2.5 m long and 70 cm apart, i.e. plot size was 3.5
m
2
for green ear traits and grain yield trial. All other
recommended agronomical practices were followed.
1.1 Experiment 1: Baby corn yield and other traits
The evaluated traits were weight of husked and
unhusked ears, length and diameter of husked and
unhusked ears, fresh tassel weight, plant height, ear
insertion height and fresh weight of above ground part
of the plant. The total weights of ears were estimated
based on the total number of ears harvested from the
usable area of the plot. Unhusked ears, free of damage
caused by pests or diseases were considered
marketable. Husked ears that presented good health, a
color varying from pearly white to light yellow,
cylindrical shape with a diameter ranging from 0.8 to
1.8 cm and length ranging from 4 to 12 cm were
considered marketable. Marketable ear diameter and
length were evaluated using a caliper rule. The fresh
weight of above-ground part was estimated based on
10 ears, five crushed plants, the crushed roots of two
plants, and ten tassels, respectively. Plant height
(distance from the soil level to the insertion point of
the highest leaf) and ear insertion height (distance
from the soil level to the ear insertion node), and
tassel characteristics were evaluated in the same ten
plants selected at random from the usable area of each
plot.
1.2 Experiment 2: Green ear yield, grain yield and
other traits
This experiment was planted on the same date, in a
neighboring area, and managed in a similar way. The
usable area was considered as the space occupied by
the two central rows, with the elimination of plants
from one pit at each end. One of the usable rows was
chosen at random for green ear yield assessment, and
the other was used for grain yield assessment.
The evaluated traits were total number and weight of
green ears per plant, plant height, ear insertion height
and grain yield and its components. The total number
and mass of ears were estimated based on the total
number of ears harvested from the usable area of the
plot. Plant height and ear insertion height were
measured after dry ear harvesting. Dry corn was
harvested when grain moisture content was close to
20%. Measurements were done for number of ears
ha
-1
(based on ears harvested from the usable area of
the plot), number of kernels per ear (obtained from 15
randomly selected ears), grain yield (corrected for a
15.5% moisture content, wet basis), and 100-kernel
weight (estimated based on five 100-kernel samples).
2 Results and Discussion
2.1 Experiment 1: Baby corn yield and other traits
The baby corn was harvested from 48 to 62 days after
sowing, in five operations. The inbred BQPM-2
showed the greatest plant height and ear insertion
height followed by BAUIM-2 (Table 1). High plant
densities may cause lodging in some cultivars, in
certain environments (Bavec Bavec, 2002), especially
with increasing planting density it causes plant height
and ear insertion height to increase as well (Modarres
et al., 1998). Since baby corn is generally produced
under high planting densities, preference should be
given to smaller-sized cultivars, in order to decrease
yield losses, which might happen if lodging occurs
before flowering. The greatest fresh weight of above
ground part of the plant was shown by HKI-163
followed by CM152 and BAUIM-3.
The inbred V341 showed the smallest fresh tassel
weight. The tassel functions as a strong sink organ,
and may demand an expressive amount of
photoassimilates (Chinwuba et al., 1961). In addition,
large tassels cause leaf shading (Hunter et al., 1969).
Further there exist a negative correlation between
tassel size and prolificacy (Souza Junior et al., 1985),
which is a very important trait in cultivars intended for
baby corn production. Thus, cultivars with smaller
tassels seem to be important for both baby corn and
grain production. Further detasseling provides an
increase in the productivity of commercial baby corn
ears, regardless of sowing season (Carvalho et al.,
2002).
Espinosa Calderon et al.
(1999)
studied the
effects of detasselling on the performance of nineteen
tropical maize lines. Overall, the baby corn yield of
detasselled inbred lines was significantly higher by
30.3% than that of non-detasselled lines.
The inbred BQPM-4 followed by BAU1M-4 was
found to be the most productive with respect to the
weight of husked and unhusked ears (Table 2). Depending