Heavy Pubescence

[jerryrva]

I planted out 50 seeds from a popcorn cross. One plant has noticeably more pubescence on the leaf sheaths that I noticed when looking for the first signs of an ear showing. It so happens that plant will probably be my best selection out of all plants. It meets my goals with strong stalk strength, 3 full sized ears and tight husks.

I haven't found anything in my research on the benefits of selecting a corn with more pubescence than normal or where in its ancestry it might be coming from.

My cross was Amish Butter (aka Pennsylvania Butter Flavored) x Appalachian Sweet Flint.

I also got a couple of Bear's Paws, overshot husks, red silk, salmon silk and thin husks out of it.

Can anyone enlighten me on the extra pubescence?

[nkline]

From what I have read it helps keep plants cooler, which is good on the leaf stalk. Lots, of corn has some I would say it’s just a product of the genetic lottery. Now you can call it Amish/Appalachian hairy stalk popcorn, lol.

[jerryrva]

I plan on planting all the seed from the ear and see what shows up. Now if some red or black hairs show up, I would have something unique and worthy of being called hairy!