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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 19, 2011 23:19:18 GMT -5
Joseph, nice picture. I find it an interesting trait, but it's not something i would want in my corn. I think it would lead to smaller kernels in general because of drying out too early, and also is prey to birds. But, perhaps it might have a chance to dry out faster if it was a flint corn, which actually might help it survive in the wild. The tassel-kernels are small and hard: (Based on last year's memory, I'd estimate it would take about 3 tassel-kernels to equal the volume of one cob-kernel.) Insects don't seem to bother tassel-kernels (too hard?). About the only wild birds that seek out corn in my garden are pheasants, and they only eat corn that is less than 18" from the ground. In theory they could jump on a stalk and weigh it down, but the one's in my garden don't use that technique. Jays, and large woodpeckers are the only birds that I've seen taking corn from cobs at my bird feeders. They are uncommon birds around here during the summer. Doves and pigeons will eat shelled corn from my feeders, but not if it is still attached to the cob.
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Post by spacecase0 on Jul 20, 2011 13:46:55 GMT -5
I'm not expecting to play around with this trait, but I'll collect seed for any of you that want to. It would sure save labor as a decorative corn. I would like to try it, please save some seeds for me
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 20, 2011 23:30:52 GMT -5
OK. I'll collect some tassel seed in a month or so and post a note that it's available.
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Post by Alan on Jul 20, 2011 23:43:23 GMT -5
I've seen the tastle cob development quite often here, usually in stressed, open pollinated, sweet corn populations and segregates of SU and SE hybrids (particularly amongst F2's of bodacious sweet corn it seems common).
Joseph, as a small suggestion I would definitely start making specific selections for the prolific trait, this is one easy to spot visual trait which is easily fixed within a population and gives some of the greates gains along with silk/tassle same day for drought tolerance. Amanda Palmer has a lot of prolific blood in her and it is coming to the forefront this season as are the flint like characteristics of some of the parents.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 21, 2011 2:13:56 GMT -5
Joseph, as a small suggestion I would definitely start making specific selections for the prolific trait, this is one easy to spot visual trait which is easily fixed within a population and gives some of the greates gains along with silk/tassle same day for drought tolerance. It's easy for me to make selections for the prolific trait. It's much more difficult for me to get the selected seed into the ground.... But I think I've finally got my ear-to-row method established... I'm planting in serial instead of in parallel. In one long row I plant ten feet of seed from one cob, then a break of 3 feet, then another ten feet of seed from one cob (or one variety). Then I start another long row. Then I can compare how each sibling group grows compared to the other sibling groups. I'm mostly not keeping records. I figure each sibling group will manifest it's traits, then I write a description of the traits onto the envelope I collect the seed into. Ain't it funny? I live in an arid desert, and I don't have a care in the world about drought tolerance. If our irrigation system fails the only crops I'd likely to be able to harvest are early spring greens, turnips, radishes, and winter wheat. Around here we don't call it a drought, we call it summer. I really aught to pay more attention to growing dry-land crops.
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