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The analysis of variance of a data set made up of 30 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids evaluated over 5 years for marketable ears (dozens per hectare) indicated a significant genotype (hybrid) × year (GY) interaction. Three selection methods were compared: 1) a conventional method based on mean yield alone (YA), 2) Kang's ranksum (KRS) method, and 3) Kang's modified rank-sum (KMR) method. The number of hybrids selected on the basis of YA, KRS, and KMR was 13. The KRS selected the lowest number of unstable hybrids (three) compared with the YA and KMR, which selected eight and six unstable hybrids, respectively. The mean yields of the selected hybrids were 3034 dozen/ha for YA, 2945 dozen/ha for KRS, and 3019 dozen/ha for KMR. The mean yield of KRS-selected hybrids and KMR-selected hybrids was <2.9% and 0.5%, respectively, than that of YA-based selections. This yield reduction was regarded as insignificant considering the farmer would be able to choose more consistently performing hybrids on the basis of KRS than on the basis of KMR or YA. Heterogeneity due to environmental index is the mean of all genotypes in the jth year and X is the overall mean) was significant and was removed from the GY interaction. The removal of heterogeneity revealed that hybrids 77-2269, 116-Kandy Korn-EH, Golden Queen, 141-Sundance, Merit, and Stowell Evergreen were unstable because of a linear effect of the environmental index, and that hybrids 76-2681 and 806F-Truckers showed stable performance due to a linear effect of the environmental index.
Efforts to obtain edible-fruited passion vines through hybridization of Passiflora edulis and P. incarnata produced a population of tetraploid plants that survive freezing winters in central Georgia belowground, and grow aboveground in warm weather. One selection from this population blooms from late June or early July through October, yielding quantities of flowers from 8.5 to 9.6 cm diameter that have deep blue-colored sepals and petals surmounted by a disc of heavily-crimped filaments that are white at the outer margin. The nectar has proven a good food resource for the ruby-throated hummingbird, which breeds in much of the southeastern U.S. This clone is highly self-incompatible and sets no fruit when grown apart from cross-compatible clones. Its vines are vigorous, growing to 5 meters or more, and have dark green, markedly denticulate trilobed leaves 13 to 24.5 cm long by 15 to 25 cm wide. These afford a nursery habitat for caterpillars of 3 native butterflies, the zebra and the Gulf and variegated fritillaries. Because of its ease of culture and wide adaptation, this vine is recommended to plant in the continental U.S. for environmental enhancement.