Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jun 11, 2011 19:07:39 GMT -5
I planted a hybrid swarm of corn a few days ago. A hybrid swarm is a population of hybrids which contains parent types, and offspring types, and intermediate types all mingled together and back-crossing and cross pollinating each other. Around 50 clumps of about 7 seeds each were planted at 5 foot spacing on a grid. Each clump was the same kind of seed. All of the major races of corn were represented: Andean, Mexican Highlands, Tropical Lowlands (Southern dents), Northern Flints, and popcorn. In a few weeks I expect to add to the patch some short season corns to act as a bridge between the long season and the short season corns.
Hybrid swarms are characterized by huge phenotypic differences between individuals. The size of the seeds varied from 2 mm to 20 mm. I expect the plants to grow anywhere from 2 feet tall to 20 feet. I expect some to grow along the ground like vines. There were flints, flours, and sweets.
I use my hybrid swarm of corn primarily as a source for new breeding material. Secondarily I use it as a means of preserving genetic diversity for future generations. When I am looking for a trait that could be incorporated into a new variety or into an existing landrace I start by screening the swarm. For example in the winter of 2010/2011 I planted huge numbers of corn swarm seed in the fall, and several times during the winter, looking for seed that grows well after being frozen in soil. Of the tens of thousands of seeds planted I selected 42 plants to grow out for further evaluation. After a couple of generations of this treatment they will be good candidates to incorporate into a land-race of sugary enhanced sweet corn to add better cold soil emergence to a variety that suffers severe losses when planted in cold soil. An equally clever result of these experiements would be to find seeds that carry perennial traits or are extremely frost tolerant.
