Purple kernel streaking (PKS) in white food corn (Zea mays L.) is characterized by the accumulation of purple‐pigmented streaks (anthocyanins) in an otherwise colorless pericarp. This paper is the first published report documenting PKS, the prevalence of the trait in commercial white food corn germplasm, and the genetics underlying it. Entries from the Early White Food Corn Performance Trials were grown in Ontario over a three‐year period and rated for incidence of PKS and days to flower. All commercial hybrids entered were genetically predisposed to PKS with severity varying across years and entries, and not consistently related to hybrid maturity. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping was used to identify the genomic regions influencing PKS expression in an F2:3 population derived from the cross of two white food corn inbred lines, SD79 and SD80. PKS exhibited significant genotype × year interaction. QTLs were identified for each year explaining 64 and 46% of the phenotypic variation, with only one single‐effect and one two‐way interaction common across the two years. Linkage of the main single‐effect QTL with the y1 gene, coupled with the G×E effects, may explain the prevalence of PKS in commercial white food corn hybrids.

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Present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of irrigation regimes and zeolite on the yield and quality parameters of silage corn hybrids. Study was conducted at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute in Karaj, Iran during 2013. The experiment was arranged in a three-replicated split-spilt plot based on randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) including three irrigation regimes as main plots (irrigation after 70, 100 and 130 mm evaporation from standard class A evaporation pan), two levels of zeolite as sub plots (0, 10 ton/ha) and three hybrids of silage corn (KSC704, KSC705 and KSC720) as sub subplot. Results of this study indicated that increasing water stress from optimum irrigation (Ir70) to moderate (Ir100) and low irrigation (Ir130) caused 25 and 37% reduction in forage dry matter yield but no significant difference was reported in protein yield. Moreover, application of zeolite have significant effect on forage yield and also have significant effect on protein yield (P<0.01). Forage quality parameters including water soluble carbohydrates, crude protein, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber increased and dry matter digestibility reduced when there was limited irrigation imposition. Among the tested corn seed hybrids KSC704 hybrid produced the highest dry forage yield and in terms of protein yield, no significant difference was reported between KSC720. KSC705 hybrid had the lowest acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber and the highest dry matter digestibility.