|
Post by oxbowfarm on Aug 2, 2014 17:19:25 GMT -5
Are prop roots from the nodes above ground genetic or environmental? Can you breed for or away from them? Noticed some interesting variability in the prop roots in my flour corn patch. Nifty purple/black Coroico prop roots. The roots on the higher node on this white flour corn seem like they got confused. Tore off the remnants of the sheath to expose the initiating root tips. I love the look of prop roots in the corn patch, but it isn't clear to me if they actually do much to prevent lodging, etc. They definitey contribute to a big woody clump of root/stem that takes a long time to break down in following seasons. I'm wondering if they are worth having, or are a good thing to select against?
|
|
|
Post by dustdevil on Aug 3, 2014 8:13:14 GMT -5
Brace roots are genetic. They help stabilize a stalk to some degree against lodging. Sometimes some of the brace roots break in heavy winds resulting in a lodged stalk that won't stand all the way up again. I definitely would select for them.
|
|
|
Post by steev on Aug 3, 2014 21:30:13 GMT -5
I think they're useful: where I grow can be very gusty/windy and I figure they increase the root-ball, so I tend to hill up for them.
|
|
|
Post by maicerochico on Aug 3, 2014 22:23:56 GMT -5
Strong prop root development is a heritable trait that you definitely want to select heavily for. I prefer a minimum of two complete rings on a plant; three is better; four or more is excessive and often accompanies high daylength sensitivity.
In 2012 I had a few plants from a coastal Peruvian maize collection that produced 5 rings of brace roots (and coincidentally they didn't bloom until mid August). I seem to recall reading somewhere that certain maize x teosinte crosses can yield plants with prop roots up to the 6th node.
|
|
|
Post by steev on Aug 3, 2014 23:20:23 GMT -5
In that vein, the White Peruvian (the only corn I currently have that has prop roots) is now ~10' with no tassels, I think they're up to 4th node.
|
|
|
Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Aug 3, 2014 23:53:53 GMT -5
When I was a child the corn we grew had prop roots. Today the corns I grow are mostly lacking prop roots. I think that I prefer the corn without prop roots because it makes fall tilling easier. My summer weather patterns and soil don't tend towards lodging in corn, and even if I get lots of rain just before a big wind storm the plants tend to right themselves in a few days.
However... I just lost a crop of corn to animals (racoons?). If the presence of prop roots could prevent the animals from pulling the plants down and eating the cobs I might be tempted to add prop roots to my corn.
|
|
|
Post by 12540dumont on Aug 4, 2014 16:22:03 GMT -5
Dar's corn is now 14' tall (maybe taller). I begin to think that Dar sent me this corn to see how I was going to pick it. As many of you know, I'm vertically challenged. at 5'3", the corn cobs are at 7 feet off the ground. It has 3 rings of prop roots. We used to call them corn toes. In years gone by...lots of years now, I remember hilling corn up to to the first ring of tap roots. When it grew another, we'd hill again. Corn was watered in furrows, once or twice a season, if it didn't rain. We'd be sent out to cover the "corn toes". This was in Minnesota. I don't see much corn "hilling" anymore.
Joseph, this corn is too tall for racoons.
|
|
|
Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Aug 4, 2014 16:36:39 GMT -5
I love hilling corn... If I do it on the right timing then the soil covers the newly germinating seedlings and I don't have to weed because they get smothered.
|
|
|
Post by DarJones on Aug 5, 2014 13:10:07 GMT -5
I'm in favor of brace roots and actively select for them. Joseph, there is variation in height of ears. I have some corn that produces ears at 5 feet on a stalk that is 8 feet tall. If the stalk is reasonably sturdy, this tends to be very tolerant of varmint attacks. So select for higher ear placement!
Holly, you made a big mistake. You irrigated the drought tolerant corn. The stuff goes berserk if it gets plenty of water. Wish you luck picking it.
|
|
|
Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Aug 5, 2014 14:45:50 GMT -5
DarJones: I appreciate the feedback. Last year I selected popcorn with ear heights of 5 to 7 feet. I didn't plant it this spring, but the mice haven't got it yet either.... Last year there was a sweet corn plant that produced 3 cobs on the node immediately below the tassel I think that I didn't save seed from it. My next patch of corn to mature is Astronomy Domine which is right next to the one that got eaten. I still haven't decided if I want to try to rescue it from the varmints or if I want to let them have their best go at it to select for more animal resistant corn... I have several gallons of seed still, so I don't need the seed, but I arranged a really clever inter-planting this summer that would have created some really clever coloration next year. It might anyway, because they don't eat the whole cobs, just take a bite or 10. There are always leftovers.
|
|
|
Post by nathanp on Aug 5, 2014 19:41:28 GMT -5
I have had raccoons break the stalk in half to get to the ears. Height doesn't matter in that case how well it is rooted if the stalk isn't sturdy enough.
|
|
|
Post by steev on Aug 5, 2014 20:39:23 GMT -5
Thinking on it, it seems the only corns I've had that were "proppy" were Andean; seems to me that North American corns have been selected against it. Sure seems like a valuable trait. Granted, heavily rooted corn is a PITA, if you're working your field for re-planting, but if you're planting around them, or using the cornstalks for trellis, so they have time to decay, what's the problem? I admit to being a lazy bastard and loving any plant that will aid and abet my shiftless lifestyle.
|
|
|
Post by raymondo on Aug 6, 2014 6:03:44 GMT -5
... I admit to being a lazy bastard and loving any plant that will aid and abet my shiftless lifestyle. Same here. I also love any gardening technique that helps promote said lifestyle!
|
|
|
Post by 12540dumont on Aug 6, 2014 23:00:11 GMT -5
okay, gremlin corn was irrigated at night.
Drought tolerant= will take some drought. For goodness sake, the soil here is like dry dust. If I didn't irrigate, everything would croak.
To that end, nothing got more than a gallon a week. And everything looks mighty thirsty.
Dar it snaps at me when I go by. I think it's telling me to hurry up. One of the kittens climbed one and got stuck up the corn. Wasn't sure if I should call the fire department or let it work it out itself.
Ended up getting the orchard ladder.
|
|
|
Post by steev on Aug 7, 2014 0:05:45 GMT -5
Are you sure it climbed, didn't just fall asleep in a node and get lifted up?
|
|