A Study on growing possibilities of hybrid popcorn genotypes (zea mays everta sturt.) in Çukurova conditions

This study was conducted to determine yield and some characteristics of single cross popcorn genotypes in Çukurova ecological conditions during 1997-1998 growing seasons. In the research, totally 30 genotypes were used as plant materials. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. While row spacing was 70 cm within a row was 20 cm in the trial. Fertilizer rates were calculated as 20 kg N and 6 kg P2O5 per decare. All of the phosphorus fertilizer was applied at sowing while nitrogen fertilizer was splitted, half applied at planting and half when the plants were 40-50 cm. Results from the study can be summarized as following: Tasselling period varied, in the maincrop from 51.3 to 61.7 days in the second crop 45.0 to 51.7 days; whereas plant height in the main crop from 143.5 to 183.2 cm, in the second crop from 149.5 to 192.5 cm; ear length in the main crop from 13.3 to 16.8, in the second crop from 13.1 to 16.1 cm; and ear diameter in the main crop from 2.7 to 2.9, in the second crop from 2.8 to 3.3 mm. In addition kernel number per ear was in the main crop between 387 and 561 in the second crop between 390 and 541. Single ear yield was calculated ranging in the main crop from 42.8 to 64.0, in the second crop from 64.0 to 107.7 g; 1000 grain weight in the main crop from 104.2 to 135.8, in the second crop from 186.7 to 208.3 g and overall yield in the main crop from 96 to 587 kg/da, in the second crop from 386 to 638 kg/da. Key Words : Corn, Popcorn, Single Cross, Genotype II