The Effect of Polyethylene Film and Polypropylene Non-Woven Fabric Cover on Cobs Parameters and Nutritional Value of Two Sweet Maize (Zea mays L. var. saccharata Bailey) Hybrids

Abstract

In 2012–2014, at the Research and Didactic Station of the Department of Horticulture at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences (51°19′06′′ N, 17°03′49′′ E), field studies were conducted to evaluate the responses of two sweet maize hybrids to sowing dates (early and optimum) and five methods of maize plant coverings—polyethylene film: perforated (PE), red (PER), green (PEG), polypropylene non-woven fabric (PP), and control (C), with non-irrigation systems. Total yield and morphological characteristics of cobs were compared. In 2012 soluble sugars and carotenoids content were measured. The use of maize cover at the beginning of growth (PE and PER) significantly influenced the number of rows, while PE and PEG increased the number of grains per cob. Covering maize sown at a later date, with polyethylene film and non-woven fabric, ensured better production effects than using such covers after earlier sowing. Signet F1 hybrid was charact0erized by significantly higher sugar content and Rustler F1 by higher lutein and zeaxanthin levels. The application of the optimum sowing date resulted in a significantly higher yield of cobs, by 11.3%, than after early sowing. The yield increase as a result of the applied covers was higher after sowing at a later date. The content of dry matter in grains was positively correlated with the content of sucrose, glucose, and fructose. The change in carotenoids content also depended on the accumulation of dry matter in the kernels. The study confirmed the correlation of sweet maize accumulated growing degree days (AGDD), and revealed dependence of grain quality on dry matter content in the grain.

Tuber yield and water efficiency of early potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivated under various irrigation levels

“…The experiment was conducted on degraded chernozem soil, Gleyic Calcic Chernozem soil (Food Agriculture Organization–World References Base, FAO–WRB). Soil mineral particle parts size structure corresponded to sandy clay 23 . The soil chemical composition used for the pot experiment was as follows: pH—7.16, salinity 155 µS/cm, P, K, Ca, Mg, nitrates (in mg/dm 3 ): 51, 52, 420, 20, 1.31, respectively 23 .…”

“…Soil mineral particle parts size structure corresponded to sandy clay 23 . The soil chemical composition used for the pot experiment was as follows: pH—7.16, salinity 155 µS/cm, P, K, Ca, Mg, nitrates (in mg/dm 3 ): 51, 52, 420, 20, 1.31, respectively 23 .…”

Maize Pharmacy of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. convar. saccharata var. Rugosa)

“…saccharata var. Rugosa) is a maize variety with high sugar content, as a result of the naturally occurring recessive mutation in the maize genes, which controls conversion of sugar to starch inside the endosperm of the corn kernel (Erwin, 1951;Adetimirin, 2007;Panchal et al, 2017;Swapna et al, 2020;Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021;Wikipedia, 2023). Three major genotypes/varieties of sweet corn are standard sugary [su], super sweet [sh2], and sugar-enhanced [se] (Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021).…”

“…Rugosa) is a maize variety with high sugar content, as a result of the naturally occurring recessive mutation in the maize genes, which controls conversion of sugar to starch inside the endosperm of the corn kernel (Erwin, 1951;Adetimirin, 2007;Panchal et al, 2017;Swapna et al, 2020;Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021;Wikipedia, 2023). Three major genotypes/varieties of sweet corn are standard sugary [su], super sweet [sh2], and sugar-enhanced [se] (Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021). They differ in sweetness, keeping quality, and seed vigour, but super sweet or shrunken-2 sweet corn contains up to twice the amount of sugar in standard varieties (Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021) (https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-are-differences-between-various-typessweet-corn).…”

“…Three major genotypes/varieties of sweet corn are standard sugary [su], super sweet [sh2], and sugar-enhanced [se] (Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021). They differ in sweetness, keeping quality, and seed vigour, but super sweet or shrunken-2 sweet corn contains up to twice the amount of sugar in standard varieties (Adamczewska-Sowińska et al, 2021) (https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-are-differences-between-various-typessweet-corn).…”