Journal of Zhejiang Agricultural Sciences ›› 2026, Vol. 67 ›› Issue (2): 304-309.DOI: 10.16178/j.issn.0528-9017.20240760

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Breeding and characterization of the nationally approved maize cultivar Wenkenuo 2

XIN Shuangshuang1,2(), XU Qianya1,2, HUANG Yechang1,2, GAO Xiteng1,2, LIU Yongan1,2, YUE Gaohong1,2, DENG Lizhang1,2, PAN Binrong1,2()   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Crop Breeding in Southern Zhejiang,Wenzhou 325006,Zhejiang
    2.Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Wenzhou 325006,Zhejiang
  • Received:2024-09-24 Online:2026-02-28 Published:2026-03-07

Abstract:

Sweet-waxy maize is a new type of fresh-eating maize pioneered in China. It combines the flavor advantages of both sweet and waxy maize,offering a sweet and waxy texture,and has gained strong market popularity in recent years,becoming a key development direction in the fresh maize industry. Since 2010,the Dryland Crops Breeding Team of Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences has been engaged in germplasm innovation and variety breeding of sweet-waxy maize. Using the heterozygous recessive homozygous hybrid method (waxy maize × sweet-waxy maize) and through multi-year field phenotypic selection as well as evaluations of grain sugar content and eating quality,the team successfully bred the sweet-waxy maize cultivar Wenkenuo 2. This cultivar exhibits high and stable yield,strong combining ability,short growth period,and excellent quality. It participated in the spring waxy maize comparative trials from 2018 to 2019,the Southeast China Fresh Waxy Maize Consortium regional trials from 2021 to 2022,achieving an average yield of 1 161.15 kg per 667 m2,a 21.61% increase compared with the control,and obtained national approval in 2023. This paper systematically describes the breeding process,characteristics,and corresponding cultivation techniques of Wenkenuo 2,aiming to provide technical guidance for its future promotion.

Key words: sweet-waxy maize, fresh-eating maize, Wenkenuo 2, new cultivar breeding, characterization

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