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80 Belle Glade AREC iimeo Report EV-1972-6 July 1972


 PLANTING AND THINNING SYSTEMS FOR Sh HIGH SUGAR RETENTION
 SWEET CORN HYBRIDS IN EVERGLADES ORGANIC SOILS

 V. L. Guzman, E. A. !'olf and 1'. U. Deen, Jr.-



 A new experimental high sugar retention corn hybrid for fresh market,

 developed at this Center, was tested in commercial plantings during the 1971-72

 season. This hybrid, EES 279, contains the shrunken 2 (Sh2) endosperm which

 differs from that in regular sweet corn. The shrunken factor causes the fresh

 ear of this corn to maintain its good quality for long storage periods. Another

 characteristic of Sh2 corn is low starch content in the endosperm resulting in

 smaller, more wrinkled seed than regular sweet corn. This relatively low reserve

 food supply in the seed hampers germination and makes it more difficult to obtain

 a good stand, particularly in cool and/or excessively wet soils. Because it is

 difficult to get consistent, high yields planting Sh2 seed to stand, studies were

 initiated in the spring of 1972 to investigate methods to assure proper stands

 and thus high yields with this type corn.

 Working with lobelle and Gold Cup standard sweet corn hybrids, Guzman and

 Kahl found that thinning by hand, after drilling the seed approximately 4 inches

 apart, improved yields over the "planted to stand" treatment. Further, yield

 increase was sufficient to overcome the cost of hand thinning. Since that time,

 however, labor costs have increased sharply and, at times, help is difficult if

 not impossible to find. OIviously, one method for increasing yield would be to

 improve plant population by judicious use of av i le pre-gclalin 1-tM ig and
 HUiME LIBRARY
 thinning equipment.
 SEP 11 1972

 1/ Professors and Assoc. Professor respectively. University of Florica, IFAS,
 Agricultural Research und Educantion Confter, [4y -C q fGt&Id S430.
 inv fF~'d