DETERMINATION OF YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF SOME NEW SWEET CORN (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) TYPES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN TURKEY†

This study was conducted to investigate the yield and yield components of sweet corn genotypes with different endosperm types (su, se and sh2) at Tokat-Kazova, Hatay and Samsun locations in 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Thirteen F1 sweet corn varieties with different kernel colors and sugar contents and a composite variety were experimented in randomized blocks design with 3 replications. The following yield, yield components, morphological and agronomic traits were studied: tasseling period, silking period, fresh kernel ripening period, plant height, ear length and diameter, number of rows per ear, percent of barren tip, number of kernels per ear, single ear weight, fresh kernel weight per ear, number of ears per plant, number of marketable ears per decare, fresh ear yield per decare, fresh kernel yield per decare and fodder yield. Present findings revealed that Tokat, Hatay and Samsun ecologies were appropriate for production of high yield and quality sweet corn varieties. Among the sweet corn genotypes, early-ripening Bodacious and Fantastic varieties and the varieties of Lumina, Fantastic and Sunshine with well ear characteristics, the varieties of Sunshine and Vega with the greatest number of ears per decare, the varieties of Sunshine, Vega, Fantastic and Silver Queen with the first places in fresh ear yield per decare, fresh kernel yield and fodder yield were identified as prominent varieties. The varieties of Vega, Fantastic, Bodacious and Lumina with desired values of investigated parameters were identified as stable varieties for fresh ear and kernel yield per decare and such a stability indicated that these varieties could successfully be used in different locations. The first principle component included barren tip and explained 47.1% of the total variation, thus it was seen that assessment of barren tips will be sufficient to put forth the differences of genotypes.