Influence of sweet corn harvest date on kernels quality

Abstract

Sweet corn has a very short period of optimum harvest maturity, and its quality changes rapidly close to and following the peak. The aim of this study was to determine the sweet corn quality on the ground of some physicochemical properties of intact kernels (moisture content, compression, shear and puncture force, bulk density, sugar and starch contents) and cut kernels (processing recovery, cut corn yield) at four subsequent harvest dates. The moisture content, sugars level, and ear yield decreased. The starch level, bulk density (intact and cut kernels), compression force, shear force and puncture force, processing recovery and cut corn yield increased. The first harvest date showed a greater advantage in the higher sweet corn quality for processing than the following harvest date. The moisture decreased from 77.41% to 69.83% with delayed harvest date. A decline was observed of sweet corn quality (increase of force in compression, shear and puncture tests, raise in the starch level). However, the following harvest date had an advantage in a higher processing recovery and cut corn yield.