Evaluation and Identification of Suitable Maize Cultivars for Baby Corn Productivity Traits

Abstract

Twenty cultivars of maize were assessed for their suitability for baby corn cultivation on the basis of different
characteristics relevant for baby corn production relating to productivity traits, viz. flowering, as well as ear and
plant characteristics (days to first cob picking, fodder etc.), during kharif 2007 and rabi 2007-08 seasons. HM 4 and
HQPM 1 were found superior for most of the important productivity traits for cultivation, viz. husked cob yield per
plant, HM 4(174.8g), HQPM 1 (169.9g); de-husked cob yield per plant, HM 4 (30.4g), HQPM 1 (26.0g); number
of cobs picked per plant, HM 4 (3.3), HQPM 1 (2.7) and fodder yield per plant, HM 4 (522.3g), HQPM 1 (650.6g).
Vivek Hybrid 17 and Vivek Hybrid 9 were found 10-14 days early for number of days to first cob picking and number
of days to last cob picking compared to other cultivars. On the basis of overall characteristics, two elite hybrids HM
4 and HQPM 1 were identified for baby corn purpose. Many genotypes with specific characteristics can serve as
potential genetic resources for effecting further development of new genotypes useful for baby corn improvement.