Corn varieties: TOP 50 best with descriptions and characteristics with photos

Sweet corn is defined by botanists as the only representative species of the genus Corn cultivated as an agricultural crop. Humanity began cultivating it more than 5,000 years ago and has managed to develop a huge variety of varieties to this day. Information about what varieties of corn are available helps you understand which material is best to choose in accordance with the purpose and conditions, and also determine care requirements. In the article you will learn what varieties of corn there are - early, early ripening, late and their hybrids, varieties of sweet corn, bonduelle and for popcorn, as well as what varieties of fodder corn.

The best varieties of corn

There are different types of corn, and it is impossible to single out one, the best. There is a large classification of grain crops. You need to select a suitable variety according to geographical features and weather conditions.

The intended purpose of the harvest plays an important role in choosing a variety. For example, only popping varieties of vegetables are suitable for making popcorn. Some types are suitable for canning, cooking or freezing.

For home cultivation in Russia, the following are considered the best varieties of corn:

The sweet variety Lakomka 121 is distinguished by early harvest ripening. From the moment of emergence of seedlings to ripeness, 65 days pass. The yield is high, the grains are yellow, the plant length is 18 cm.
Dobrynya is distinguished by large cobs with a sweetish taste. Plant height 160 cm, yellow grains. Harvesting begins after 70 days.

Spirit belongs to the early sweet crops. Harvesting begins two months after planting. The plant is unpretentious, reaches a height of two meters, the grains are large, rich yellow in color.
The Early Golden variety refers to plants in the early ripening period (90 days). The vegetable exhibits resistance to fungal diseases and produces a high yield. The cobs are small with yellow, soft grains.
Ice nectar is a late-ripening variety. It is characterized by high sweetness and numerous yields. The cobs are large, the grains are yellow, soft and juicy.

Other productive varieties and hybrids of cereal crops include: Sundance, Pioneer, Syngenta, Jubilee.

Varieties of corn

Corn is secretly called the “queen of fields.” Different types of crops differ from each other in taste, shape and color, and growing method .

Scientists-breeders divide corn into the following varieties :

Dessert - has a sweet taste and juicy pulp. Growing dessert varieties is not easy, as they are very sensitive to mineral and organic fertilizers and require regular pinching and hilling. Dessert corn is mainly used in cooking: added to salads, boiled, baked with vegetables.
Waxy - can be yellow, white and even red. Mainly used in starch production. Most varieties are mid-season, with excellent taste. Waxy corn is especially good when cooked.
Flint varieties are grown by gardeners all over the world. Cereals are made into cereals and flakes, so flint corn is often produced on an industrial scale. The color of the grains can be lilac, brown, yellow. Most varieties are late-ripening and productive.
Tooth-shaped - is a long and large cob with rich yellow grains. The plant is easy to care for and shows stable productivity even in difficult weather conditions. Tooth-shaped varieties are not only eaten, but also grown for use in the production of starch, flour and even alcohol.
Bursting - characterized by a high protein content and an original grain shape that bursts when heated. Its main purpose is the production of puffed cereal and popcorn.
Mini corn is a cone-shaped, light-colored cob with small kernels. The taste is no different from ordinary corn, the yield is stable.

Interesting. Mexico is considered the birthplace of corn. It was there that the first corn grains were found, which were grown by local residents more than 5-7 thousand years ago. In Europe, corn became popular only in the 15th century, and in Russia - by the end of the 18th century.

Corn: varieties and hybrids

Not only varieties, but also hybrids of corn have been identified. They are characterized by high resistance to diseases, rich yields, withstand weather changes, and the harvested crop is stored for a long time and does not spoil.

There are 6 main groups of sugar varieties of vegetables, which differ in the color and shape of the grains, as well as the structure of the cobs and leaves. Within each group there are types of high-yielding corn. Types of corn:

Sweet corn is used in cooking. The grains are nutritious and sweet, the outer shell is wrinkled.
The tooth-shaped type of vegetable is used most often for industrial purposes. A distinctive feature is the starch content of 75%, high glassiness and minimal mealiness.

The flint or Indian variety is not characterized by high yield, but has many other advantages: it tolerates frost well, is resistant to many diseases, and a strong stem protects against lodging. Ideal for animal feed due to the high starch content of the grains.
Mealy or starchy varieties of grain crops are rarely grown in Russia. It does not store well and does not withstand bad weather. The shell of the grains is practically absent, so harvesting is difficult, most of the cobs are damaged.

Waxy culture is rare. The grains have a characteristic waxy color, the skin is thin and smooth, and they contain 95% starch. Used as animal feed.
The popping type of corn is used to make confectionery. The starch content in grains is no more than 60%.

The most productive varieties of vegetables can be found among other groups. There are also semi-dentate, filmy, starchy-sugar varieties of corn.

Sweet and popping corn - the best varieties of Russian and foreign selection

Do you love to eat extremely tasty and sugary cobs? Choose!

Corn Dobrynya. One of the best sugar species, it is not picky about growing conditions, but, like all other plants, it loves a lot of moisture. The yield is low, reaching 40-50 kg/acre, but the fruits have a very good taste and high sugar content. The grains are small, have a very thin skin, so after cooking you can feel a delicate taste, they burst with little physical effort. Often used for preservation, it is one of the most famous products that are exported abroad.
Excellent. A hybrid of Russian selection, it is perfectly acclimatized in mid-latitudes, but a prerequisite for obtaining a good harvest is abundant watering. If the top layer of soil often dries out, then there is nothing to count on more than 40 centners per hectare. Heads of cabbage reach 28-30 centimeters in length and up to 6 cm in diameter. As for resistance to pests and diseases, the variety is capricious; proper treatment with pesticides and fungicides is necessary. But the effort will more than pay off when you get a large harvest of delicious cobs.
Dneprovskaya 925. One of the best for growing popcorn. The yield of finished products is at least 75% with proper processing and storage. The plant loves moisture; if there is a lack of it, the cobs become very small and hard. Standard grain moisture is 8-9%. The yield is up to 60-70 kg/acre, which is quite good, considering the specification of the variety.
Oerlikon. Included in the state register of popping corn varieties recommended for growing. Its main difference is the increased volume of seeds in finished form after heat treatment. The popcorn comes out large and elastic, has very good taste and a characteristic smell, which appeals to many gourmets and simply lovers of delicious desserts. The weight of 1000 seeds is relatively large - 285-295 grams. The sugar content is up to 13%, which is not even typical for popping corn.
Voronezhskaya 80-A. An early-ripening hybrid of sweet corn, bred at the Voronezh breeding site. Today it is grown in almost all regions of the country and is very popular for canning and exporting abroad. It has specific taste qualities, a light fruity taste and a high sugar consistency (up to 14%). The yield reaches 45-50 c/ha, which is quite a lot even for a sugar variety.

The sugar content in cobs primarily depends on the growing conditions, since if there is a lack of water and sun, the plant will not accumulate the required amount. If you want to get really sweet fruits, you need to ensure constant moisture in the top layer of soil, as well as use organic and nitrogen fertilizers.

Early corn

Early varieties of corn include plants that are able to form a crop in a short period of time, 11–12 weeks after planting. Suitable for regions where summer is short. It is better to plant seedlings in open ground. Varieties:

Early sweet hybrid Trophy F1 with a growing season of 75 days. The stem of the plant does not exceed two meters, the cob is small (no more than 22 cm). The plant is disease-resistant and tolerates drought well.
Jubilee F1 is distinguished by early ripening (81 days), rich taste, high yield and disease resistance. The length of the cob is 23 cm, the grains are yellow and sweet.

The early ripe hybrid Landmark F1 can be stored for a long time after harvesting, exhibits resistance to many diseases, the length of the cob is 21 cm, the grains are yellow and juicy.
The corn hybrid Ladozhsky 250 MB has medium-early ripening limits. The duration of the growing season is 105 days. The grains are tooth-shaped, yellow. The plant is 250 cm high. The hybrid is highly drought-resistant, does not lie down, and rarely gets sick.
Early ripening corn hybrids include Ladozhsky 191. Harvesting can begin after 95 days. The grains are tooth-like and siliceous, yellow in color. The stem of the plant stretches up to 250 cm. The hybrid tolerates cold well and is highly resistant to disease.

Early varieties of grain crops allow you to harvest the first harvest early, and they all have good characteristics.

Features of cultivation

Corn is grown only in well-lit, sunny areas. To obtain good harvests with high quality cobs, the soil must be fertile, well fertilized and slightly acidic.
Sowing of seeds is carried out at a soil temperature of at least +10 degrees. The depth of seed placement in the soil is 6-8 cm. To obtain earlier production, the plant is grown through seedlings, with the seeds sown in March or April.
After 3-4 leaves appear, the plants are thinned out, leaving up to 0.5-0.7 m between plants.
It is necessary to hill up the plants to prevent them from lodging.
Harvesting occurs when the cobs reach milky or milky-wax ripeness.

Do not deny yourself the pleasure of growing these “rays of sunshine” on your site.

In addition to the fact that you will enjoy eating corn, it is also a natural support for climbing plants: cucumbers, climbing beans.

Many gardeners refuse to grow corn only because they live in the Moscow region, but in vain, because the harvest of this crop can be obtained even in the conditions of central Russia. In our article we will briefly familiarize ourselves with the nuances of growing the crop, and also describe the main varieties of corn for the Moscow region.

To obtain a good harvest, elevated areas with maximum sun exposure are allocated for corn crops. One of the main conditions for growing the crop in question is to obtain seedling material, which will reduce the growing season of the plant in open ground. The soil for seedlings must contain a sufficient amount of nutrients and have good moisture and oxygen permeability. For cultivation in the Moscow region, it is advisable to use early-ripening varieties of corn with a growing season of no more than 3 months. Next, we describe the most popular crop varieties for this region.

Mid-season varieties of sweet corn

Medium-ripened vegetables are characterized by longer ripening periods. These varieties of corn tolerate short-term drought well, the crop is well stored and retains its taste in any culinary processing. Varieties:

Excellent quality and wonderful, sweet taste hybrid Sweetstar F. Plant height is about two meters. The length of the ears is 22 cm, the grains are amber-yellow. Shows good disease resistance.
The Maksalia corn hybrid is characterized by a medium-sized plant, the cob is elongated, the grains are tooth-shaped, yellow. The hybrid is resistant to many diseases and produces high yields.
The growing season of the Brusnitsa variety lasts 80 days. The length of the cob is 22 cm, weighs 200 g. The grains are juicy, yellow in color. High resistance to diseases.

Hybrid Favorit is demanding in terms of fertilizing and irrigation, is resistant to many diseases and is characterized by high productivity. Plant height 170 cm, cob length 19 cm, weight 200 g. The grain is bright yellow.
The varieties of corn for grain include Pearl with a sweet, juicy taste that does not change during cooking, freezing and canning. The height of the stem is 20 cm, the ear is 21 cm long. High resistance to disease and good shelf life.

Other popular varieties and hybrids of vegetable grain crops with an average period of harvest ripening include: Delicatessen, Rusalka, Spirit F1.

The most productive late varieties

Vegetables with late harvest ripening periods are highly resistant to various unfavorable factors. The most productive late-ripening varieties of corn include the following:

The growing season of the Polaris hybrid is 105 days. The crop is demanding on fertilizing and irrigation, does not tolerate cold, but is resistant to diseases and lodging. The height of the stem is 200 cm, the length of the cob is 24 cm, the weight is 330 g. The grain contains a lot of sugar, is yellow in color, and is covered with a thin shell on top.
The Bashkirovets hybrid begins to ripen after 140 days. The seedlings do not tolerate frost well. The plant reaches 280 cm, the length of the cob is 23 cm, the weight is 350 g. The grain is large, smooth, light yellow in color. The culture is rarely affected by various diseases.
Russian bursting 3 requires 95 days to mature. Plant height is 180 cm, cob length is 20 cm, weight is 250 g. Productivity is average, it is resistant to diseases. Used to make popcorn and cereal.

Corn for popcorn

Certain varieties of the crop are chosen for popcorn. The grains of this group of vegetables have thin walls; inside they contain a drop of water with starch, which turns into steam when heated. As a result, the grain bursts under pressure.

The following varieties of corn are used for cooking: Lopay-lopai, Ping-Pong, Vulcan, Zeya Krasnaya, Gostinets, Vnuchkina Joy.

Characteristics of corn varieties for popcorn:

The ripening of ears of the Oerlikon species begins after 105 days. Plant height 220 cm, cob weight 120 g, grains large, yellow. The variety is characterized by high cold resistance and disease resistance.

The Vulcan variety is resistant to many diseases, drought, and cold. Plant height 200 cm, cob length 21 cm. The grains are small and yellow.
The beautiful Zeya Red variety is distinguished by burgundy-red grains and early ripening (80 days). The plant grows up to 180 cm, the length of the cobs is 20 cm.
An early ripening vegetable variety for popcorn, Vnuchkina Joy, is distinguished by its early ripening period, on average 72 days are enough. The plant reaches a height of 160 cm. The cobs are small, their length is 11 cm, weight is 230 g. The grains are small, orange in color. The variety is resistant to diseases and produces consistently high yields even under unfavorable conditions.

The popping crop is demanding in terms of watering, fertilizing and air content in the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly carry out harrowing, loosening, and weeding.

Growing corn in open ground, or how to grow corn in the country

Growing corn in the country is not difficult: if all the rules of agricultural technology are followed, every gardener will be able to provide his family with a decent harvest of a useful crop. The area for the grass is chosen to be dry and open, preferably protected from strong winds. The best predecessors for growing corn in open ground are potatoes, pumpkin and legumes.

Soil with a high level of acidity is limed in the fall (2-3 kg of fluff lime is added per 10 square meters of land), and also dug up, adding a bucket of sand, peat and manure (compost is possible) per 1 square meter.

In the spring, the area for corn is dug up again with the addition of mineral fertilizers: superphosphate, urea, potassium sulfate. Before planting corn, the soil can be loosened to remove weeds.

There are 2 technologies for growing corn:

Growing corn from seeds

Growing corn from seeds is a method that is more suitable for areas with warm climates. Planting takes place in late April - early May. The most important thing is that the soil warms up above 10 degrees by this time. You can plant the seeds dry, but it is better to germinate corn as follows: the grains must be treated with a growth stimulant or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, placed in a container without a lid, filled with settled water, after 12 hours the water is drained, and the grains are covered with a wet, breathable cloth, after which you need to wait, when the corn sprouts. The fabric must be constantly damp: if it dries out, the seeds will die. Some skip the step of filling the seeds with water, immediately covering the corn grains with a damp cloth and waiting for germination.

The corn planting scheme is simple: 2-3 sprouted grains are lowered into holes 5-7 cm deep. A distance of 15-20 cm is maintained between the holes, and 40-50 cm between the rows. After the first shoots appear, they need to be thinned out, leaving 2 sprouts in 1 nest. This will make the corn more resistant to lodging.

It is advisable to plant corn in 4 rows to allow cross-pollination of the plants. If there is no cross-pollination, you need to pollinate the corn by hand: shake the plant's pollen into a bag, open the embryo of the corn cob and pour some pollen into it. This must be repeated several times (preferably 3-4 times in the morning).

Growing corn from seedlings

You can grow corn in the country using seedlings; this method is usually used in the northern regions. Sprouted corn grains are planted in a seedling box to a depth of 3 cm. The soil for corn should consist of sand, peat and compost (1: 1: 2). Ash is also added to the mixture (200 grams per half bucket of mixture). The top of the soil is sprinkled with sand. You can plant corn in a common box or in separate plastic cups. If the plant was sown in a common box, then 2 weeks after planting the seedlings are planted in separate containers. 10 days before planting corn in open ground, seedlings need to be fed. The timing of planting in the ground is usually after June 10.

Krasnodar corn

The best varieties of grain vegetables for open ground are widely introduced into production and are successfully grown in regions with hot climates. All of them are characterized by high, stable yields and tolerate insufficient soil moisture and drought:

The mid-early type of plants includes corn seeds of the Krasnodar 291 variety. The growing season lasts 108 days. The productivity of the hybrid is high. The grains are tooth-shaped, yellow. The height of the plant is 190 cm, the cylindrical ear weighs 300 g. The hybrid is resistant to disease and drought.

Corn Krasnodar 194 MV has an average yield. Cultivated for grain and silage. The main characteristics of the corn variety Krasnodarsky 194 include: the cob is cylindrical in shape, the grains are tooth-like and siliceous, the plant grows up to 250 cm. The description of the hybrid notes high resistance to lodging, cold and disease.
Krasnodar 377 AMV belongs to the mid-season type of plants with a growing season of 113 days. Plant height 250 cm. The grain is yellow, tooth-shaped. The cob weighs approximately 370 g. The hybrid tolerates drought well and is resistant to disease.

Other varieties of Krasnodar corn include: hybrid Krasnodar corn, Krasnodar sugar 250, Krasnodar 436 MV, Krasnodar 303 TV.

Feed corn varieties

Feed corn is grown to feed domestic herbivores. The plant should be distinguished by massive greenery and you don’t have to wait for the cobs to fully ripen. The following seeds are considered the best varieties of fodder corn:

The vegetable hybrid Pearl is characterized by high yield, medium-early ripening time (82 days), and is resistant to many diseases.
Adewey hybrid corn seeds are grown for grain and silage and are suitable for early sowing. Plant height is 270 cm, the cobs are elongated, the grains are flint-toothed. The hybrid is resistant to lodging, drought, and disease.
Saratov sugar is a medium-sized variety of the crop, stem height 150 cm, characterized by early ripening. The variety is valued for its resistance to drought, cold, and disease.
The best variety of fodder corn is Aurica. Plant height 170 cm. Belongs to early ripening varieties. Weakly affected by fungal diseases.

What other varieties of corn are there that can be grown for animal feed? The following feed varieties are popular:

The high-yielding, early-ripening hybrid Golden Fleece is resistant to major diseases and is resistant to lodging. The culture requires heat, watering and fertilizers.
Plants of the hybrid Kuban early ripening grow up to 170 cm. They are distinguished by high silage yield.
The early ripening hybrid Viola is characterized by high silage yield. The hybrid is resistant to lodging and diseases. The height of the stem is 2 meters.

There is a variety of elite DKS corn hybrids from. All hybrids are suitable for growing for silage, following traditional soil cultivation techniques.

Diseases and pests

Breeders are trying to develop new varieties of corn that could be resistant to various infections and insects. However, gardeners have to deal with the following troubles:

Diseases – lodging of sunrises (Korneed), Blister smut, Loose smut, Rust, Brown spot, Nigrosporosis, Fusarium. The causative agents of infections are fungi of various genera that live in the soil for up to 5 years. Treatment with modern fungicides will preserve healthy plants. The affected ones should be dug up and destroyed.
Pests - locusts, wireworms, false wireworms, cutworm caterpillars, cereal aphids, Swedish flies and stem moths. Preparations such as Decis Profi, Break, Shar Pei will help destroy insects.

Before using chemicals, you must carefully read the instructions from the manufacturer. If the concentration of solutions is high, it can harm the grains and the person himself.

We have provided all the detailed information about diseases and pests of corn, as well as methods for combating them, in this material.

We have prepared additional information for you on sowing and growing corn. Read these materials:

Secrets of high yields from 1 hectare.
The best varieties of sweet corn.
Is it possible to plant together with cucumbers?
How to get a good harvest in the Moscow region?

White corn varieties

The white variety of the vegetable is a hybrid. The sweet grain is white and small in size. The plant itself grows up to two meters, the leaves are long and pointed. Kinds:

Thompson Prolific is a high-yielding crop from North America. The plant grows up to 3 meters. The length of the cobs is 42 cm. Large grains are white. Most often grown to make flour.
The Snow Avalanche hybrid is an early-ripening, medium-sized, high-yielding crop. The white beans are sweet and juicy. The hybrid tolerates drought and cold well.

Mid-season vegetable variety White Cloud, intended for the production of popcorn. The plant is medium-sized, the length of the cob is 22 cm. The variety is resistant to southern helminthosporium.
The early-ripening hybrid Snow Queen is intended for cooking and baking. The plant exhibits high resistance to disease, the height of the stem reaches 180 cm. The length of the cobs is 18 cm, the grains are white with a high sugar content.

Other varieties of varieties with white grains include: Sugar Queen White, Popsicle, Ice Nectar, Snow White.

Japanese corn

Among other varieties of grain crops, Japanese corn stands out, which is more of an ornamental variety. The subspecies is distinguished not only by the unique color and shape of the cobs, but also by its beautiful leaves.

The cobs are suitable for eating at the stage of milky ripeness, but they are uneven in shape and the grains are small. Japanese corn seeds are most often dark red in color, the cobs are small and elongated.

Pearl miracle corn is distinguished by beautiful, decorative foliage with multi-colored stripes. The plant reaches a height of 160 cm. Mature cobs can be eaten and used to decorate a room. A crop grown in open ground is demanding on heat and soil composition. Does not tolerate drafts and strong winds.

Corn - description and photo

Corn is an annual herbaceous grass that reaches 3 meters in height; in rare cases, the height of corn can be 6-7 meters. The corn root system, consisting of lobes and adventitious roots, develops well and penetrates deep into the ground up to 1.5 meters. Support roots sometimes form at the first internodes, absorbing nutrients from the air.

How does corn grow?

Single straight stalks of corn up to 7 cm in diameter, unlike other cereal plants, do not have an internal cavity, but contain loose parenchyma. The plant produces large leaves that grow up to 1 meter in length and 10 cm in width.

Corn, like any monoecious plant, is endowed with unisexual flowers.

Male flowers are located at the tops of the shoots of the plant. Female flowers are connected into inflorescences-cobs growing in the leaf axils.

Male corn flower

Male corn flower macrophoto

Female corn flower

As a rule, no more than 2 ears are formed on one stalk of corn, but bushy varieties of the plant may have more.

A mature ear of corn grows up to 4-50 cm in length and has a circumference of up to 10 cm. The weight of an ear of corn varies from 30 to 500 grams. Each cob is densely covered with leaf-like involucres.

Wind-borne pollen from the staminate flowers of corn settles on the stigmas of the female thread-like styles emerging in a bunch from under the involucres. After pollination, the development of fruit grains begins. Corn kernels grow close together and are located on the cob.

One ear of corn can contain up to a thousand round or slightly elongated kernels. Most varieties of corn are distinguished by yellow grain color, but some have red, blue, purple, and black grains.

Where does corn grow?

Corn is native to Guatemala and Southern Mexico. Nowadays, the cereal has spread throughout the world, but the leaders in large-scale cultivation are the USA, Brazil and China. The top ten countries where corn is grown also included Mexico, Argentina, India, South Africa, France and Russia.

Variety Bonduelle

In fact, there is no such variety of corn. Bonduelle is the name of a brand of canned products that combines sweet types of vegetables: Trophy F1, Spirit F1, Dobrynya F1, Bonus.

A sweet, coarse-grained variety of corn, Bonduelle, is intended for cultivation in central Russia. Most of the crop's hybrids are distinguished by high yields and excellent taste. Cobs with sweet grains can be eaten both fresh and cooked.

To grow corn with good yields, it is necessary to establish a sufficient watering regime and fertilizing. You can select Bonduelle varieties with different harvest ripening periods and taste qualities.

Corn for cooking

For cooking, you need to choose not fodder varieties of corn, but a sugar variety at the stage of milky ripeness. The color of the grains should be milky yellow or golden. It is best to choose sugar corn varieties for cooking: Spirit, Voronezhskaya 80, Pioneer, Ice Nectar, Jubilee, Early Zolotaya, Lakomka.

You can cook the vegetable in a saucepan, slow cooker, oven, or microwave. The cob does not need to be peeled before cooking, just remove the top leaves. Cobs of the same size are placed in cold water for a while and only then begin cooking. Then they are transferred to new cold water and put on fire. Salt and sugar are added 15 minutes before cooking.

Young corn takes 20 minutes to be fully cooked. Ripe vegetables are cooked a little longer, about 40 minutes. Readiness can be judged by the softness of the grains; if they are easily pierced with a fork, then you can drain the water. After which the pan with the vegetable is wrapped in heat for another 30 minutes.

Corn care: watering, fertilizing, pollination

Proper care of corn requires certain knowledge. During the growing season, the plant needs timely, abundant watering, especially when the cobs ripen, as well as regular loosening of the soil. During the active growth phase, it is necessary to remove the side shoots of corn (20-25 centimeter side shoots).

3 weeks after planting, feed the corn with an aqueous solution of mullein or bird droppings in a ratio of 1:11. Then a couple more feedings are carried out with any complex mineral fertilizer: during the flowering of corn and at the beginning of the formation of cobs. When the cobs begin to fill up, apply foliar feeding with a solution of urea: 1 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water.

To obtain full-grain cobs, it does not hurt to carry out 2-3 procedures of pollination of corn, shaking the flower panicles. The harvest is cut with a sharp knife in the milky ripeness phase of the grain, about a month after flowering.

Dentoform and semidentate

In varieties of toothed corn (Sterling, Syngenta, Dneprovsky 172 MV, Krasnodar 436 MV, Kadr 443 SV), the grains have an elongated shape with a characteristic depression at the top, which is formed during the ripening stage. In outline they resemble a tooth. This group of plants includes varieties and hybrids with yellow and white grains. Most often, varieties with late harvest ripening periods.

The semi-tooth crop was obtained by crossing flint and dent corn. This group is distinguished by varieties with high yields. The plant can be used to produce animal feed, and the cobs are allowed to be eaten.

Types of corn, names, descriptions and photos

The only representative of the genus Corn grown in cultivation is sweet corn, also known as maize (Zea mays ssp. Mays or Zea saccharata).

In addition to sweet corn, the genus is divided into 4 species:

Zea diploperennis;
Zea luxurians;
Zea nicaraguensis;
Zea perennis.

And 4 subspecies of Zea mays growing in the wild:

Zea mays ssp. Mexicana;
Zea mays ssp. parviglumis;
Zea mays Huehuetenangensis;
Zea mays ssp.

The modern classification includes 10 botanical groups, differing in the shape and structure of the fruit.

Sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata, Zea mays ssp . mays ) (eng. Sweet corn)

A common variety of corn, beloved by agronomists, grown all over the world except Antarctica. The bushy plants produce several ears, and the varieties of corn developed have kernels of a wide variety of colors. The ripened, translucent corn kernel, consisting of horn-like storage tissue, contains a minimum of starch and a large amount of sugars. This cereal is grown for industrial preservation; the forks are suitable for boiling.

Dent corn (Zea mays indentata)

gave birth to many productive late-ripening varieties. The plants are sparsely leafy, characterized by vigorous stems, massive ears and the formation of a large number of aerial roots. During the ripening of corn, a characteristic dent appears on the large elongated grains, making the grain look like a tooth. The varietal group derived from dent corn is cultivated in America as a forage plant. Corn kernels are used to produce flour, grits and alcohol.

Flint corn (Indian corn) (Zea mays i n durata)

the very first type of corn exported from America. It is successfully grown throughout the world and has the widest distribution of all members of the genus. The round, wrinkled kernels of corn can be yellow or white in color and consist of 70-83% hardened starch. The varietal diversity is characterized by early ripening and high yield. The most popular varieties of corn are those developed by hybridization with dent corn. Flint corn is grown primarily for grain, but also for the production of corn sticks and flakes.

Starchy corn (mealy, soft corn) (Zea mays amylacea) (eng. Flour corn)

the oldest representative of the genus, distinguished by small, densely leafy, bushy plant forms. Large round corn kernels with a convex top have a smooth, matte shell. The grain contains over 80% starch. Starchy corn grows only in South America and the south of the North American continent; it is grown for the production of starch, flour, alcohol and molasses.

Waxy corn (Zea mays ceratina)

a group of modified tooth-like North American hybrids, distinguished by a two-layer storage tissue: a hard, matte outer part, resembling wax, and a mealy middle layer consisting of sticky amylopectin. The group has a very limited range and a small number of varieties. In China, waxy corn is especially popular.

Popcorn (Zea mays everta )

a group represented by bushy, leafy plants that form several medium-sized ears filled with small grains. The grain is smooth and glossy. Corn varieties are divided into 2 subgroups:

Pearled corn: has a beak-shaped top of the kernel and tastes like pearl barley;
Rice corn: It has a round top and tastes like rice flour.

The varietal diversity is distinguished by a variety of colors. Corn grains can be yellow, white, red, blue, and there are also varieties with pockmarked grain colors.

All types of corn kernels pop when heated, which is why popcorn gets its name and is used to make popcorn. About 16% protein was found in the grains, and therefore the variety is widely used in the production of cereals and corn flakes. Initially, popping corn began to be cultivated in America, and then the varieties quickly spread throughout the globe.

Semident corn (Zea mays semidentata)

obtained by crossing representatives of the siliceous and dentate groups and is sometimes called semi-siliceous. Varieties of this type of corn are widely used in the food industry.

Pod corn (Zea mays tunicata)

It is distinguished by the intensive growth of spikelet scales, densely covering mature grains. The group has no nutritional value. According to some statements, hulled corn is used in Indian rituals.

Starchy sweet corn (Zea mays amyleosaccharata)

is not of industrial interest, and corn grains consist almost entirely of mealy storage substance.

Japanese striped maize Zea mays japonica )

It is mainly used for decorative purposes, as it has a rather impressive appearance. The stem is straight, slightly bushy, 1 to 2 meters high. The leaves of corn are quite spreading, drooping, colored with multi-colored longitudinal stripes located on a green background. The color of the stripes is multifaceted and varies from white and yellow to pinkish and bright red. The cobs are miniature, the grain sometimes has a purple or cherry tint, and at the stage of milky ripeness it has good taste. Japanese corn is widely used in landscape design as decorative hedges.

Siliceous

The shape of siliceous corn grains is round, the top is convex, the surface is smooth and glossy. The color can be lilac, chocolate, variegated or yellow. A distinctive feature is the content of a large amount of starch.

The most popular types of flint corn include: Voronezhskaya 80, Voronezhskaya 76, North Dakota, Cherokee Blue, Ornamental Congo. All varieties are characterized by high yields, resistance to diseases and changes in air temperature.

Hybrid phenomenon

The corn hybrid SI Phenomenon has a medium-early harvest ripening period. They are grown to produce animal feed, as well as grains. The grains are tooth-shaped, orange in color, and have a starch content of 72%. The plant exhibits high disease resistance.

Other characteristics of the Phenomenon hybrid include: large cobs with a large number of rows, grains quickly give up moisture during the ripening process, the root system develops quickly. The plant exhibits high resistance to drought, frost, and lodging.

Pioneer and its hybrids

A well-known manufacturer of corn seeds is the Pioneer company. The produced plant varieties are grown in any climatic conditions, they show resistance to common diseases of grain crops and allow for a rich harvest. The grains on the cobs are elongated, large, tooth-shaped. The shell has a medium degree of hardness.

The most popular Pioneer corn hybrids include: PR38D93 Anasta, 3893 Clarica, Pioneer 37D25 and 39F58. Characteristics of varieties:

Flinty-toothed variety Pr39B29 FAO 170 with very early ripening. Grown for silage and grain. The pulp of the grains has a high starch content; they quickly release moisture during the ripening period.
Elita FAO 210 is characterized by rapid growth, resistance to adverse factors and diseases, and adapts well to any soil composition. The grain is of the siliceous type and is characterized by high moisture release during ripening.

Costella FAO 220 is a low plant. The grains are of the flint-tooth type with a high starch content. The hybrid is resistant to major diseases and adapts to any soil composition.
The mid-season hybrid Klarika FAO 310 is characterized by high yield. The type of grain is tooth-like, it releases moisture well during the period of maturity. The hybrid has good drought resistance and disease tolerance.
Mid-late hybrid PR 38D93 Anasta with high yield potential. The grains are distinguished by high moisture release and are of the tooth-like type. Shows resistance to many diseases.

Due to the high content of nutritional components in Pioneer corn, it is used to produce feed for herbivores, and is also used in the food industry for the production of flour, cereals, and canned products.

Membranous

All varieties of hulled corn are of no nutritional value, so variety is very poor. Corn is grown only for silage, for the sake of green mass. The variety of the crop is widespread in Africa, where it is used as food for herbivores.

The homeland of the filmy variety of the plant is South America. The grains are no different in color and shape from other types of corn.

A characteristic feature is the presence of scales that cover the entire cob and each individual grain.

Interesting facts about corn

Corn, a common cereal for everyone, is a rather interesting plant. Mexicans are considered the absolute record holders for corn consumption, because one resident of the country eats almost 100 kg of corn per year.
According to archaeologists, the first popcorn appeared over 5 thousand years ago. American Indians placed corn kernels in the sand next to a fire, and then caught the exploding balls, shook them off the sand, and ate them.
In the old days, smoking pipes were made from corn cobs. Cob wrappers were used as corks, and balls were made from them. Strong stalks of corn were used to build houses and fences.

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Waxy

Waxy corn varieties are distinguished by a matte, smooth surface of the grains. The outer shell is opaque and dense. The pulp is mealy and sticky, since the starch of the pulp consists of almost 100% amylopectin.

Description of varieties:

Mid-season strawberry crop is an ornamental plant, but the cobs can also be eaten. The taste is pleasant and slightly sweet. Ribbon-shaped leaves with white stripes. The ears are red-burgundy in color, 7 cm long. Plant stem 150 cm.
The mid-season variety Mother of Pearl reaches a height of 220 cm. The cobs are pyramidal in shape, 14 cm long. The grains are oblong, gray, lilac-white and pearlescent in color.
Oaxacan red corn is an early maturing crop (90 days). Plant height 2 meters. The cob is round in shape, 20 cm long. The medium-sized grain is red in color and tastes juicy and sweet.

The kernels on an ear of waxy corn can vary in shape and color. The main purpose of a mature harvest is its further processing into starch.

What is special about colored varieties?

Glass Gem corn can't be eaten boiled, but it makes great popcorn.

Colored varieties of corn are becoming increasingly popular. Their main feature is unpretentiousness (purple varieties are very easy to grow) and high quality indicators (red corn grown in Peru is a record holder for the content of some useful substances).

Colored corn can be black, purple, red, rainbow, etc. Among the most famous varieties are: “Glass Gem”, “Early Pink Glow”, “Strawberry”, “Oaxacan Red”, “Mother of Pearl”, “Mini Striped” , “Miracle Red Cone”, “Bloody Butcher”, “Black Waxy Corn”, etc.