What kinds of corn are there

In fact, we can use genetics to study the history of any organism that has DNA. Genetic studies of corn are easier than studies of wild plants because corn has been used, moved, and stored by humans throughout its evolutionary history. Because of its widespread use, corn remains have been found in many archeological sites. In the case of corn, its oldest recorded remains—fossilized cobs—have been estimated to be around 6, years old [ 3 ]. This evidence and other scientific data have told us that Mexico is considered the center of origin and diversification of corn and harbors about half of all the genetic diversity genetic variants of this crop in the American continent [ 4 ].

The domestication of corn on the American continent was a huge deal for the people living in this part of the world, as this plant became a very important crop for most pre-Columbian civilizations until the Europeans came to the Americas which happened in A. In pre-Columbian times, only the potato had a similar role in the Inca Empire, located in what is now Peru and Bolivia.

So, currently, which countries are the top corn producers in the world? According to recent data, China and the United States have the highest maize production worldwide, with and million tons per year, respectively, followed by some Latin American countries.

Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico have a production of 79, 33, and 23 million tons per year, respectively. Nowadays, many of us think about corn grains as food for chickens, pigs, and other farm animals, but corn has many other uses. In the food industry, corn starch, derived from ground corn kernels, is added into various foods such as pasta, candies, sauces, breads, soups, stews, and baby food. Some edible oils and syrups are also made from corn, such as fructose and other sweeteners, used in most sodas or even juices sold in supermarkets.

Processed corn is also used in medicines, cosmetics, glues, paper, textiles, paints, and solvents. Another use for corn is to use its sugars to make biodiesel fuel for use in cars and other vehicles. So, not only can we eat corn as an additive mixed into different foods, or as a side dish like delicious corn on the cob, or grits, or as a snack in the form of nachos and popcorn: around the world, there are many dishes—and cultures—that totally revolve around corn.

In such cultures, corn is a central component of their cuisines. We will talk about this in the next section! In countries such as Mexico, most of Central America, Colombia, and several countries in Africa, corn-based foods are eaten every day. In places like Mexico, you can even have a three-course meal with each plate having some or a lot of corn.

All corn can be prepared as a form of bread like a tortilla , as soups, or as all-in-one dishes. Examples include a soup called pozole and a steamed and stuffed tortilla dough, called a tamale.

Corn is also used to make hot or cold beverages, and even desserts see Figure 2. In Mexico alone, there are approximately corn-based dishes! You may be wondering how so many different dishes can be prepared from a single type of corn. Well, it turns out that there are thousands of different varieties, or types of corn, grouped into hundreds of so-called landraces varieties of corn that are kept by small-scale farmers, which share similar features and genes.

Many of these landraces have existed since pre-Columbian times before A. In the Americas alone, approximately landraces have been recorded over the last years [ 5 ]. These landraces have been adapted by humans to grow in environments with different soil types, altitudes, water availability, and temperatures.

In addition, the various landraces of corn have different kernel colors, cob size, and flavor! In the third figure of this article, you will see a map of the American continent with some examples of different landraces, as well as the regions where they were generated [ 3 , 6 ]. Therefore, the huge variety of corn landraces will not always stay the same, because these three factors also change over time. This means that we cannot just go and collect lots of seeds from each variety of corn and store them in a fridge, expecting that the varieties we save will still be able to grow even when the conditions of the world change.

We recently investigated what might happen to corn diversity in Mexico in the future, under different scenarios of climate change. We found that some landraces will thrive well if temperatures increase, but others may disappear [ 7 ]. Very importantly, we found that the more we preserve different types of corn landraces, we will be able to better adapt to climate change, reducing the negative impact on agricultural production less yield per acre , as landraces will be more resistant to variable weather conditions than the commercial corn varieties that are currently being sown in many parts of the world.

Finally, it is also important to make sure that the traditional technologies with which corn has been cultivated for thousands of years are maintained. Dent corn gets its name because of the dent, or dimple, that forms on the top of each kernel when it starts drying out.

That's right, the most commonly grown corn in the United States is grown for other purposes. It's used for fuel, livestock feed and in thousands of other bio-based products like carpet, cosmetics and aspirin. Dent corn is also used to make ethanol. Dent corn is more commonly grown here than sweet corn, mostly because it's in higher demand. Only about one percent of the all the corn grown in the United States is sweet corn.

Sweet corn is the main kind of corn people eat. This is the type you'll find in the produce aisle of your grocery store. Sweet corn is harvested when the kernels are soft and flavorful.

Field corn is harvested later in the season when the plant has dried, the leaves and stalk have turned brown, and the kernels are hard. This is used — you guessed it — as a crunchy snack. Popcorn is similar to field corn. The seed is especially neat because different varieties can grow different colors of kernels. As Allison has said most are not GMO, but hybrids aside the heirloom seeds which I would think be mostly SU corn, but even then those old seeds could be hybrids themselves going years back.

I usually grow Honey Select prolly acre or so sell it. I usually bout always get 7 to 10 days to pick it. Some people like it young and some like it totally ripe and some in between. Never had complaints. I have grown other varieties. Trying some nirvana this year also. California you could plant a small row every week and have corn for … Read more ». If you were buying it, you would absolutely know because it would involve a seed company, lengthy contracts, acreage, tractors, combines, and sprayers and an assortment of other things.

In papua new guinea we dont have variety of sweet corn. There is a lot of traditional corn widely planted in subsistence farm.

Why not import sweet corn seeds and plant it here.. Where can I find real American sweet corn seed in Chennai? I need seed for planning purposes in my farm?

And what is the price? Just a FYI corn is not a vegetable it is a grain, like a wheat or barley. A very important fact you have to learn when you have diabetes and want to control it with diet, not medication. Corn is one of the most popular vegetables, and for good reason. Blue Hopi This heirloom SH2 variety has 5-foot stalks that produce 7-inch, very dark blue ears that are highly decorative. Golden Bantam Burpee boldly states that this is the variety which made yellow sweet corn popular.

It takes 72 days to reach full maturity and does best in full sun conditions. The stalks produce large, 8-inch ears and it does best in full sun, in Zones As an added bonus, the red tassels and stalks also make fantastic autumn decorations.

Stowells Evergreen This heirloom, open-pollinated variety comes with an interesting story. About Natasha Foote With a passion for soil health and growing trees, Natasha Foote is a biologist who was hit with a serious case of green fingers, and decided to swap sterile laboratories for getting her hands dirty in the soil. More Posts Notify of. Oldest Newest Most Voted. Inline Feedbacks. Allison Sidhu allison-sidhu.