![Page 1: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn
Dave ChristensenSeed We Need
![Page 2: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
A good crop of Painted Mountain Corn. These improved Native plants yielded 105 bushels/acre.
This success involved making many good selections for many years!
![Page 3: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
After intermating many populations of western corn, I set to work selecting.
Mandan IndianVillages
Big Timber
San Luis,Colorado
SouthernDents
NorthernFlints
Corn beltDents
![Page 4: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
My gardens have many populations and lines. Sometimes I control pollination with bagging and detasseling since good mothers and fathers are needed. This is a lot of work that fills my summer days.
![Page 5: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
While I maintained the diversity of colors, my primary selection was for plants that survived, yielded well, and were free of off-types.
![Page 6: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
STRESS SELECTION TECHNIQUES:
1. Plant densely and deeply, then thin!
2. Hold back water
3. Hold back fertilizer
4. Grow in Montana: cold springs, very hot summer days, summer drought, early frost, hail
Select for horizontal resistance to stress over years of intense mass selection
![Page 7: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
I kept in my mind a vision of my ideotype after I figured out which form was the best adapted here.
When I visit my fields in the fall, I think of this type as I evaluate all of the plants.
Those that aren't the best are used, but not for seed!
With drought stress some Painted Mountain plants still yield very well.
![Page 8: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Short husks leave the grain exposed to the elements and the birds. Avoid short husks!
![Page 9: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Good husks protect the grain until harvest.
![Page 10: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
This is a well husked ear. However, the long shank allows the ear to fall to the ground and flag leaves can waste precious water in a drought.
![Page 11: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Here is great diversity for shank length. Selection can help to fix the right type: short and thin.
![Page 12: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
I keep opaque, floury kernels because they are soft and more digestible. Choose the kernel starch type you need...
![Page 13: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
...and then select them from many good ears. I spend my winters carefully selecting seeds. Only the best of the best get planted in spring.
![Page 14: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Select against ears with kernels that split or are infected with fungi: these can be toxic!
![Page 15: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Select many ears from a large population, select for good ears on healthy plants that stand long into the fall, and watch out for new traits...
![Page 16: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
...like natural resistance to grasshoppers!
![Page 17: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
After picking, dry the seed ears well.
![Page 18: Things to Look for When Selecting Your Corn Dave Christensen Seed We Need](https://reader035.vdocument.in/reader035/viewer/2022062322/5697bf931a28abf838c8f9fe/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Will you breed the Seed We Need?