Kansas Corn Explore Corn Lets Play A Game

Kansas Corn: Explore Corn

Let’s Play A Game! Introduce yourselves to your team… 5 questions

Question 1 Name 2 of the 4 basic types of corn…

Question 1

Question 2 How long has corn been around?

Question 2 Answer: 7, 000 years from Central Mexico… or sweet corn developed in 1700 s

Question 3 How many kernels are on an average ear of corn?

Question 3 Answer: 600 to 800 kernels

Question 4 About how many corn plants can grow on an acre of land?

Question 4 Answer: 22, 000 to 35, 000 plants

Question 5 The majority of grown corn is used for what purpose?

Question 5 Answer: Livestock feed

Question 6 – JOKE! How much does a pirate pay for an ear of corn?

Question 6 – JOKE! Answer: A buccaneer

Explore Corn Breakdown • Corn background and uses • Stages of life of a corn plant • Leaf Collar Method - determine SOME stages of life just by looking at plant • Dissect corn plant!

Explore Corn • Turn to “Explore Corn” article in your binder (T 7). • Introduce yourself to the people at your table. • Read article with your group. • Using whiteboard… or paper… at table, draw 5 pictures that represent 5 important facts from the article. • Time: 10 minutes

Explore Corn • Corn Staging and Leaf Collar Exploration

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar (Websites in your packet and student sheet)

Stages of Corn Life

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar (Turn to S 2)

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar Protective outer coating of seed

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar Protective outer coating of seed Moves downward from seed… helps with water uptake

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar Protective outer coating of seed Pushes up out of seed… future leaf Moves downward from seed… helps with water uptake

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar Protective outer coating of seed Pushes up out of seed… future leaf Moves downward from seed… helps with water uptake Water uptake system

Corn Staging & Leaf Collar Protective outer coating of seed Pushes up out of seed… future leaf Moves downward from seed… helps with water uptake Connects coleoptile & seed… helps lift coleoptile to surface Water uptake system

VE – Vegetative Emergence • Coleoptile breaks the surface • Can take up to 2 weeks (5 days under ideal conditions)

V 1 – 1 st collar showing • Difficult to distinguish from VE… collar around leaf distinguishes

V 3 – 3 rd collar showing • Much of growth still below surface • 3 collars • All of the leaves and ear shoots (potential ears) plant will ever produce form inside stalk from V 3 to V 5!

V 4 – V 9 • V 7 -V 8: Number of kernel rows is being determined by plant • V 9: Tassel begins to develop…

V 10 – V 15 • V 10: New leaves produced about every 2 -3 days • V 15: New leaves produces about every 1 -2 days… tip of tassel might be visible

V 16 – V 18 • V 18: Silks from ear location begin elongating • Silking about 1 week away. . . Then corn cob making begins!

VT - Tasseling • VT: Tassel fully visible… time for reproduction! • Plant now very vulnerable to hail damage! We need fertilization with tassel and silks to happen…

R 1 - Silking • Silk fully visible outside of husk • Silks catch falling pollen…transfer pollen down ovule for fertilization. • All silks usually fertilized in about 2 -3 days

R 2 – Blistering (10 to 14 days after silking) • Kernels are white on outside and resemble a… blister! • Cob is close to full size • Kernels begin to accumulate matter… kernels about 85% moisture

R 3 – Milk (18 to 22 days after silking) • Kernels are turning yellow • Inner fluid now milky white • Silks becoming dry • Sweet corn picked in this stage

R 4 – Dough (24 to 28 days after silking) • Inner milky white fluid now a “doughy” consistency • Kernels at edge of cob begin to “dent” toward end of stage

R 5 (35 to 42 days after silking) • Kernels are dented. • Drying occurs from top of cob to bottom.

R 6 – Physiological Maturity (55 to 65 days after silking) • Maximum dry weight.

Ear of Corn Exploration – Page S 5 • Work through student worksheet • Time: 10 minutes

Corn Structure Review Tassel Kernel Shank Husk Stalk Silks Ear Root

Corn Plant Dissection – Page T 16, S 7, S 8) • Work through student worksheet • Time: 20 minutes

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