1. Northern Ohio Sweet Corn Variety Trial Allen M. Gahler Extension Educator, Agriculture & Natural Resources OSU Extension, Sandusky County

2. Background Significant acreage in Sandusky, Seneca, Huron Counties Fresh market, shipping, and processing Wide variety of soil types Many new and emerging varieties

3. Objectives Compare new varieties to industry standards Determine varieties best suited for NORMAL Northern Ohio growing conditions Examine germination, plant vigor, and disease tolerance Obtain yield data relative to plant population Determine relative maturity Compare harvest data characteristics Compare ear characteristics, including taste

4. Collaboration Matt Hofelich, Manager Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center North Central Ag Research Station Cláudio M. Vrisman Graduate Student Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center Department of Plant Pathology

5. Seed Companies Abbot and Cobb Crookham Harris Morran Stokes Seminis Syngenta

6. Varieties (all SH2) Cabo BSS21075 BSS28020 GSS1170 Cumberland Placer Piscataway SV1446SD SV1580SC SC1336 EX08767143 Anthem XR Stellar XR Superb XR AP 426 AP 358 Nirvana CAPBF12-525 CSABF12-552 ACR MS2320R Aces 2182MR Glacial 1760MR SS3003R BSS30761

7. Methods 4 replicated plots planted May 14 with John Deere 7000 and Almaco cone units 91 seeds in 35 foot rows, thinned to 42 plants in 30 foot row 30 inch row spacing 8.5 inch plant spacing after thinning Simulated population = 24,394 / acre

8. Methods Coalwood Fine Sandy Loam soil Randomized variety location within reps BMP’s used throughout trial Standard fertilizer/presticide program according to tri-state and Midwest Vegetable Production guide

9. Methods - fertility Broadcast applied on April 27 100 lbs / acre of 10-52-0 200 lbs / acre of 46-0-0 500 lbs / acre of 0-0-60 7 lbs / acre of 14% granular Boron Sidedress application on June 10 350 lbs / acre of 28-0-0 fertilizer

10. Methods – Weed Control May 14 1.25 pts / acre of Dual Magnum 22 oz / acre of Roundup Powermax.5 pts / acre Choice AMS

11. Methods – Fungicide June 18 (aerial applied) 2 lbs / acre Manzate July 2 (aerial applied) 2 lbs / acre Manzate 1 lb / acre Kocide 3000 July 13 (aerial applied) 2 lbs / acre Ridomil Gold copper 1 qt/A Bravo weatherstick July 22 12 oz / acre Headline July 29 5 oz / acre Strego yld

12. Methods – Insecticide June 22 5.4 oz / acre Asana July 6 1.9 oz / acre Warrior II July 22 Coragen - 5 oz / acre, Mustang Maxx - 4 oz/acre July 29 5 oz / acre Coragen August 5 6 oz / acre of Radiant

13. Data Collection Ear Height Plant lodging Sucker growth Ear Snap # Harvested ears # Marketable ears Harvested and Marketable dozens / acre

14. Ear Evaluation Husk cover Flag leaves Shank length Tip fill # of Rows Row straightness Color Ear length Diameter

15. Ear Evaluation Tenderness Sweetness Flavor All evaluated on a 1-5 scale, measured by average score from 3 individual staff members

16. Ear Evaluation - Storage Brix reading at harvest Brix reading at 5 day cold storage Brix reading at 10 day cold storage Evaluated with kernels from 5 randomly selected ears from each rep

17. Plant Evaluation - Disease Northern Corn Leaf Blight Evaluated as % of leaf surface affected Reported as average of 6 readings from within each rep (24 data points) Evaluation on July 23 and August 13 Other Necrosis Same method as NCLB All other diseases reported in combined average

18. Observations 18.25 inches rainfall (10.65 June, 4.75 July) Average temperature 71.0°F Challenging growing season Little to no insect issues Noticeable differences in germination, early plant vigor under extreme wet conditions, disease resistance 3 varieties suffered 100% loss in rep 1 and 4 Significand reduction in yield on rep 1

19. Results!

20. To grow, it must first emerge!

21. To grow, it must first emerge! Average emergence = 90%

22. After thinning, it must mature! Average listed maturity = 76.8 Average observed maturity = 86

26. Results - Ear Hieght 19 - CSABF12-552 28.5 inches 18- CAPBF12-525 14 inches Average Height = 22.2 inches

27. Results Logding, Suckers, Ear Snap No significant differences Minor noticeable differences in suckers Varieties 10- SC1336 and 19 - CSABF12-552 were noted for ears on suckers. Snap range of 3.4 to 4.1 on a 1 to 5 scale

28. Results Harvested vs Marketable Ears Average Harvested = 71 Average Marketable = 66

29. Rep 1 on right, Rep 2 on left

30. Results Harvested vs Marketable Dozen Average Harvested = 1715 Average Marketable = 1606

31. Results Tenderness, Sweetness, Flavor Average Tenderness rating = 3.51 Average Sweetness rating = 3.03 Average Flavor rating = 3.11

32. Conclusions And the winner is….. It all depends! Fresh Market, Shipping, processing: Early, mid, or long season, marketable dozen/ac, husk cover, cold storage tolerant, disease resistance, emergence, drought tolerant, monsoon tolerant, flavor, sweetness, etc.

33. Questions Allen M. Gahler Extension Educator, Ag and Natural Resources OSU Extension Sandusky County 2000 Countryside Drive, Fremont, OH 43420 419-334-6340 Office / 419-350-2091 Mobile / 419-334-6344 Fax gahler.2@osu.edu sandusky.osu.edu gahler.2@osu.edusandusky.osu.edu Matt Hofelich Research Station Manager College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences North Central Agricultural Research Station 1165 County Road 43, Fremont, OH 43420 419-332-5142 Office / 419-680-4629 Mobile / 419-332-5643 Fax hofelich.4@osu.edu osu.edu hofelich.4@osu.eduosu.edu