From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Johnston, Iowa

I'm not sure how I missed this one, but it looks like back in 2011 a guy from Allegany, NY grew a new WR Tall Corn stalk to 34 Feet 3 inches. It doesn't look like there was a lot of fanfare associated with this new WR as it seems the grower, Jason Karl, is an academic guy, not a competitive grower?

http://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=25027

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/tallest-sweetcorn-%28maize%29-plant

2/25/2015 10:41:17 PM

Connecticut, USA

Wow!!

2/26/2015 6:24:38 AM

Central NY

That seems dangerous to pick...wow

2/26/2015 1:59:51 PM

Bethlehem CT

I never thought the old record would fall. I am very impressed.

2/26/2015 3:59:44 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Pages 2 - 4 of this newsletter describes how he achieved this new world record. The article is kind of technical, and be sure to check out the picture of the structure that was used to both support the stalk and to shift the sunlight spectrum to red. Looks like that was the one of the keys to increasing the length between leaf nodes.
Looks like a giant teepee!

http://www.agron.missouri.edu/mnl/86/MNL86.pdf

2/26/2015 4:10:11 PM

Johnston, Iowa

The previous WR was 30 ft 7/8", grown by Don Radda in Iowa back in 1946

2/26/2015 4:11:39 PM

Torrance, Ca.

That is insane!

2/26/2015 4:44:45 PM

Netherlands

It was known in the academic world, but Jason Karl tries to evade all other publicity.

2/27/2015 3:57:11 AM

Netherlands

The record is 35 feet 3 inches, instead of the 34 ft 3 in you mentioned.

2/27/2015 3:58:46 AM

Netherlands

To my knowledge the 34 ft one was grown in 2010 (as mentioned by Dan) and the 35 ft one in 2011. Jason has broken the WR for tall corn several times.

2/27/2015 4:06:30 AM

Fenton, MI

One thing for sure it makes 24' 7" look small. And it is.

2/27/2015 7:40:02 AM

Bethlehem CT

Does anyone know what strain or cultivar he used?

2/27/2015 7:41:51 AM

Netherlands

He uses several varieties. The 24 ft one was Tehua. He also uses Montana and a number of crosses that are not available to the public.
There are several strains of Tehua, and they do not all perform as well. He uses a strain which goes back to 1944 which he found in the Mexican state seedbank.

2/27/2015 12:48:59 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Brad - thank you for sharing this additional information. That is amazing that he used WWII era Tehua seeds from a Mexican seed bank! Talk about going above and beyond!

2/28/2015 3:56:26 PM

Linden, Mi.,

I will have to get to work !!!!

2/28/2015 8:23:41 PM

Netherlands

I also have seeds from that period. What the seed bank did was collect the original seeds in the 40s and then every so many years grow them and save those seeds again. The actual seeds are not from the 40s, only the strain is.

3/1/2015 1:59:53 PM