Sweet Corn

Origin

Sweet corn, Zea mays, is a monocot in the grass family, Gramineae. Modern sweet corn cultivars arose in the 19th century when a single gene (su) mutated in field corn. Plants descended from this mutant had kernels with a sugary rather than a starchy endosperm and a creamy texture. The low starch levels make the kernel wrinkled rather than plump. Sweet corn also has a thinner pericarp (seed coat) than field corn, making it more tender. Field corn traces its lineage to ancient types such as pod corn, which was grown in Mexico in prehistoric times. In pod corn, each kernel is enclosed in its own husk. Many colorful and flavorful types of corn are still grown in the southwestern United States and in Central and South America. Collectively these types are sometimes referred to as 'Indian corn' and are grown in the United States for the decorative ears.

Within the last 20 years, sweet corn breeders have introduced new genes which further increase kernel sugar content and extend shelf life. These types are referred to as supersweets, although technically this term only describes cultivars with the shrunken-2 (sh2) characteristic.

BOTANY

PRODUCTION PRACTICES

HARVEST AND POST-HARVEST

Most vitamins and minerals are present in at least small amounts but a solely corn-based diet provides inadequate niacin for human health, leading to deficiency diseases such as pellagra. Yellow corn has higher vitamin A content than white corn. One 77g ear of yellow corn provides 11 percent RDA thiamin, 3g protein, and 85 calories.

Per capita sweet corn consumption in pounds.

Life cycles and monitoring and control practices for some of the common insect pests in the southern states are described in Integrated Pest Management. Some of the important diseases of vegetables in the South and their control are described in Disease Management. The general principles of insect and disease IPM programs are also described in their respective chapters. Cultivar resistances to the more common insects and diseases in the South are listed below, and it may be useful to select cultivars with multiple resistances. The list is not meant to be inclusive, however, as new resistant cultivars are constantly being released.

References

• Schultheis, J.R. 1990. Sweeter sweet corn. Veg-I-News 10(2):1-4. NCSU, Raleigh, NC.

• Anon. 1992. Vegetable seed guide. Rogers NK Seed Co. Boise, ID.

• U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1992 Census of Agriculture. Table 29. Vegetables, Sweet corn and melons harvested for sale: 1992 and 1987. p. 396-421.

• USDA. Agricultural statistics (1947-1993), US GAO, and, Vegetables & Specialties: Situation & Outlook report (1987-1994). USDA Economic Research Service, quarterly.

• Poleman, C.M., and N. . Peckenpaugh. 1991. Nutrition essentials and diet therapy. W.B. Saunders. Co.

  Anon. 1989. Vegetable grower's seed guide. Asgrow Seed Company, Kalamazoo, MI.

• Rutgers Univ. 1984. Commercial vegetable production recommendations. Bulletin E001. Rutgers Univ., Cook College, New Brunswick, NJ.

• Seed catalogs such as Johnny's, Petoseed and Asgrow, NC Extension publications, including the 1991 Suggested Vegetable Varieties for the North Carolina Commercial Grower.

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Last Modified: Thursday, October 4, 2001