Sweet Corn Tasting
Bradford Research and Extension Center

In 2009, 20 different hybrids of sweet corn were grown that differed in their color (yellow, white, or bicolor) and their genetic expression. Over the years corn breeders have selected three genes within sweet corn that give it more sweetness (su, se, and sh2 genes). Sweet corn breeders have also developed hybrids that express two or all three genes expressed (synergistic) as either se+ or triple sweet. There were also two hybrids that had the Bt gene included that help control corn earworms. However, Bt sweet corn is not available to the general public because of planting restrictions. At ripeness the 20 different hybrids were picked and cooked for a taste test. Nearly 100 faculty, staff, and students from CAFNR came out and rated the sweet corn based on taste on a scale of from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best.

Generally, those sweet corn hybrids that were synergistic with two or more of the genes expressed rated highest along with those that had the sh2 gene alone (see Table). Interestingly, many of the popular hybrids such as Peaches and Cream ranked much lower, 2.5, than the top hybrids such as Vision and Honey Select, 4.7. Also, popular hybrids with only the se gene such as Bodacious and Incredible were in the middle, 3.8. It should be noted that those hybrids with the sh2 gene must be isolated from the su and se genes by at least 30 ft because cross pollination will result in a very poor tasting ear such as was found with White Saturn. These results indicate that consumers may want to expand their choice of sweet corn to include many of the newer hybrids.