Plot Comments

The sweet corn trial was planted on muck soil in Southern Florida on a half acre. This type of soil has 50% or more organic matter and is rich in nutrients. Since rainfall has been significantly below normal this year, the area is experiencing dry conditions. The muck soil was dry when planted, but 4 days later 0.6 inches of rain fell. This will be a big help for germination.

The surrounding canals provide most of the water needed to supplement the rain for crop development.

Planting Performance Series sweet corn seed is similar to planting any other conventional sweet corn seed hybrids. All the agricultural practices of land preparation, use of mechanical planter and watering are similar to conventional sweet corn hybrids. Biotech plants will develop similarly to other conventional hybrids through their phenological stages.

One of the advantages of planting Seminis Performance Series sweet corn hybrids will be a significant reduction on spraying insecticides for pests that attach to plants. Growers rely heavily on insecticide sprays to control lepidopteran worms, one of the major pests that attack sweet corn.

Plot Comments

The emergence was normal and uniform. Uniform meaning all plants emerged at the same time, which is really important. The plants began to germinate after a few days, and we didn’t see any insect damage in the Performance Series varieties. There was a little damage in the conventional. Both seed was treated with Poncho low 250. The siblings looked very healthy.

Plot Comments

In the vegetative stage, which is 2nd leaf, the plants are very uniform and developed normally. Although small, we now have two true leaves. They are healthy and don’t have any insect damage. Plant population is what we expected and plant stand has developed very well. They are starting to show very good green color. It will be interesting to see the population at 4 or 5 leaf and watch what the insects start to do.

Plot Comments

Up to this point, it has only been the vegetative stage. We are now starting the reproductive stage. The plants are a little short due to lack of water, but normal. There is no worm damage. Plant is clean, no holes, so yield potential is positive.

Note: When there is insect damage, there are typically no more leaves at tasseling.

Plot Comments

Silking is the most sensitive stage, therefore one spray was done at full silking. Silking was normal, and plants are healthy.

Plot Comments

The Obsession II ears that were harvested were clean of worm damage or worm presence. Ears were green and well developed. From a sample of 100 ears, only one had a small worm.