Kernel Carbohydrates Concentration in Sugary-1, Sugary Enhanced and Shrunken Sweet Corn Kernels

Sweet corn remains at its optimum harvest maturity for a very short period, and quality changes rapidly following its peak. This study investigates the changes in carbohydrate concentration of three genotypes of sweet corn: sugary (su-1), sugar enhanced (se) and supersweet or shrunken (sh2) at three stages of maturity. The analysis of variance revealed differences between genotypes for carbohydrates (sugars and starch) and between stages of maturity (moisture content). Average sugar concentration of su-1 corn was 5% higher than that of se corn and 52% higher than that of sh2 corn. The average starch concentration of su-1 corn was 27% lower than that of se corn and 66% lower than that of sh2 corn. The average moisture content of su-1 corn was 3% lower than that of se corn and 1% lower than that of sh2 corn.