Indian corn genetics

[coloradoclyde]

A few weeks ago I harvested my Indian corn patch. I planted Bloody butcher. I ran short of corn and planted a package of rainbow if I remember correctly.
This morning I parched some to get a taste....It POPPED! and jumped right out of the pan. it didn't pop fully like popcorn but some came very close...it also tasted like popcorn. Once it dries further it may very well pop fully.

When picking the corn I did notice two ears that exhibited the "dew claw" shape indicative of popcorn.

My plans for the corn are to grind it and make cornbread etc....as well as put some in a beer.

Are these characteristics normal for the variety? or are they recessive or "throwback" genes? or was it contaminated by cross breeding? :idunno:

 

[Kansas Jake]

The two varieties you planted probably cross pollinated to some extent. That would be normal if they silked at the same time. Your other two suggestions are also possibilities. I'm not familiar with either of the two varieties you used.

 

[Nativearizonan]

I've parched the Rainbow corn before and had it do the same thing. If you grind it, you should get a fine white flour; much finer than corn meal. This really is the proper corn to be parching. It's a flint corn and as such is closer to popcorn than the usual dent corn grown for most commercial uses.

It probably won't pop as much after further drying since it is the moisture in the kernel that makes it pop.

 

[nhmoose]

My wife and son won two blue ribbons in state fairs using this. http://rockymountaincorn.com/collections/frontpage/products/painted-mountain-corn-seed-1-lb

Ground nice and made tasty corn bread.

 

[coloradoclyde]

The two varieties you planted probably cross pollinated to some extent.

Yes, but the traits shouldn't show up until the next generation.

 

[coloradoclyde]

My wife and son won two blue ribbons in state fairs using this. http://rockymountaincorn.com/collections/frontpage/products/painted-mountain-corn-seed-1-lb

Ground nice and made tasty corn bread.

Thanks Moose.....I plan on growing more next year, and I'm glad to know it's Fukushima Free! :haha:

 

[Black Hand]

The two varieties you planted probably cross pollinated to some extent.

Yes, but the traits shouldn't show up until the next generation.

Why?
Genes were inherited from each parent and characteristics should be expressed within the seed...

 

[coloradoclyde]

Thanks Native Arizonan....
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has this happen...Although mine was almost primarily bloody butcher variety.

 

[coloradoclyde]

When cross pollinated, the seed produced from this years crop, now carries some of the genetic potential of the parent plants. It will show up in the fruit or vegetable next year.

Have you ever planted pumpkins from seeds from a store bought pumpkin or had them come up voluntarily the next year....only to have different pumpkins than what you had purchased.....it happens to me all the time. I keep planting seed back from last year and never know what I'm going to end up with.

 

[Black Hand]

True - but one could also start to see phenotypic differences (such as starch content, moisture, coloration & other characteristics) within the cross-pollinated grains (that would also eventually be expressed within the plant).

 

[coloradoclyde]

:hmm:

But that could happen regardless of crosspollination rather than because of it....wouldn't it?

 

[Black Hand]

Yes. But if you are getting unexpected results, without molecular analyses, all one would have are observable phenotypic characteristics...

 

[coloradoclyde]

I think that is what I was asking when I said,

Are these characteristics normal for the variety? or are they recessive or "throwback" genes? or was it contaminated by cross breeding?

I didn't really want to spend the next ten years cataloging the genetic anomalies. I don't know what to expect....that's why I'm asking. I don't have much experience growing Indian corn...

By "contaminated by crossbreeding" I meant by the manufacturer.....that I got the seed from, not me.

 

[Black Hand]

It was unclear as 2 varieties of corn were mentioned.

I planted Bloody butcher. I ran short of corn and planted a package of rainbow if I remember correctly.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I only needed up with a few ears of rainbow.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I think I know what you are asking CC and I don't know the traits of the types of corn you planted would carry or if there are recessive genes that show up. You are planting an open pollenated variety and it may carry a wider range of characteristics than a hybrid commercial variety.

Black Hand's point about the seed can be valid. If I plant a mix of some variety of sweet corn along with some variety of pop corn the cross pollenated seed from those two will pick up some of the characteristics of each. It may be somewhat unpredictable, but I would suggest a kernel with the mixed genes would be sweeter than a pop corn kernel and more likely to pop than a kernel of the sweet corn. That may be what happened in your corn.

I'm not a scientist, so take what I've written with plenty of skepticism .

 

[Kansas Jake]

This is a fun topic and I would look forward to more information from those with information on the characteristics of different heritage corn varieties.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I guess what I was asking is what should I have expected...Were my results typical or unexpected? I think Native Arizonan answered that in his first post. :thumbsup:

 

[coloradoclyde]

This is a fun topic and I would look forward to more information from those with information on the characteristics of different heritage corn varieties.

Agreed!

 

[coloradoclyde]

I was most fascinated with the "popcorn" characteristic....