Today and Tomorrow 


corn

Today, the UF/IFAS sweet corn program is breeding new sweet corn inbreds that have improved plant and ear quality, increased sugar levels, and a more creamy, corn taste using a combination of su/se and sh2 genes. The first inbred from this work was released in 2012 and is currently being used in a breeding program that has already created two cooperative, industry hybrids (Yellowstone and Everglades). These are now available commercially, and should provide stable yields under environmental conditions typical of South Florida.

In development are sweet-corn lines with improved eating quality, disease resistance, and natural insect resistance. These lines will be able to resist foliar and ear-feeding insects such as fall armyworm and silk fly.

High Impact Releases


'Florida Staysweet' (1977): This hybrid was revolutionary to the sweet corn industry and allowed the industry to move to the Shrunken-2 gene. This gene provided increased sugar content and enhanced eating quality, allowing this hybrid to take over the industry in the 1970s. The inbred lines produced from this hybrid have been widely used by other sweet corn breeders, and many sweet corn hybrids grown today can be traced back to these inbred lines.

Research Contacts


 
Márcio Resende

Márcio Resende

Breeding & Genomics
Sweet Corn 
Horticultural Sciences | Gainesville

                               
 

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