The following report will be published as

Ohio State University Extension FactSheet (AGF-136-99)

1999 High Oil Corn TC Blend® Performance Tests

Peter R. Thomison and Allen B. Geyer

Horticulture and Crop Science

High oil corn acreage in the U.S. has increased from less than 50,000 acres in 1992 to over one million acres in 1999. High oil corn contains 11/2 to 2 times more oil as well as higher quality proteins than normal yellow dent corn. It is attractive as a livestock feed because it has greater energy value than normal yellow dent corn and can replace more expensive dietary sources of fats and proteins. Contract production of high oil grain may offer corn growers higher profits through premiums. The TopCross® grain production system licensed by Optimum Quality Grains, L.L.C. (hereafter referred to as Optimum) is rapidly gaining popularity as the preferred method of producing high oil corn. The TopCross system minimizes the yield disadvantage associated with conventional high oil corn hybrids while enhancing grain nutrient composition.

The TopCross high oil grain production system involves planting a blend (TC Blend® seed corn) of two types of corn. One type, representing 90 to 92 percent of the seed in the blend, is a hybrid that is designated as the "grain parent." The second type, representing 8 to 10% of the seed, is a special "pollinator." The grain parent is a male sterile (produces no pollen) version of an elite hybrid that may be in commercial production. The pollinator is a special line, available from Optimum and licensed to seed companies, that sheds pollen within a TopCross grain production field. The pollen shed from these pollinator plants contain special genes that cause a kernel to produce a much larger than average embryo. Since most of the oil and essential amino acids are in the embryo, the oil, and thus the energy level, and protein quality of the grain produced by fertilization with these pollinators is enhanced. Pollinator plants contribute little to overall grain yield. Their function is to provide pollen to the male sterile grain parent.

In response to increasing interest in high oil corn among growers and seed companies, we conducted performance tests in 1999 at two Ohio locations comparing TC Blend seed products used in TopCross high oil grain production. The major objective of these tests was to evaluate the agronomic performance and grain quality characteristics (i.e. oil content) of TC Blends that are adapted to Ohio growing conditions and commercially available to corn growers.

The high oil corn tests were established at the Ohio State University (OSU) - Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Research (OARDC) Western Branch Research Farm near South Charleston (S.Charleston) in southwest Ohio and the OSU-OARDC Northwest Branch Research Farm near Hoytville in northwest Ohio. Sixteen high oil TC Blends representing eight seed companies were planted at each site. The male fertile grain parents (DeKalb 595, Pfister 2652, and Pioneer brand 34K77) of three of the TC Blend entries were included in the trials as checks. Contributors of seed for the 1999 tests are listed in Table 1.

Data from the High Oil TC Blend Performance Tests were analyzed as a three replication, randomized complete block design experiment at each location. The least significant differences at probability level 0.05 (LSD 0.05) and coefficients of variation (CV%) were calculated from the location analysis of variance.

Testing high oil TC Blends is difficult due to isolation requirements. If pollen from normal, (low oil) corn hybrids pollinates male sterile hybrids in the blend, then the high oil trait is not expressed. We followed a testing protocol for comparing TC Blends and normal hybrids that was recommended by Optimum. A similar procedure was used in Ohio State University field studies from 1995 to 1997 to compare high oil TC Blends and their normal counterparts. The TC Blends were isolated from normal corn hybrids (corn hybrid checks) by at least 40 rows planted to TC Blends to ensure minimum pollen contamination by normal corns. Since TC Blend pollinator codes were not disclosed this year, we were unable to block or group TC Blends by different pollinators as we have in the past. As a result, we may not have detected differences in grain oil levels associated with different TC Blend pollinators.

Table 2 indicates cultural practices and soil types associated with each test. Growing season rainfall and temperatures along with long term averages are shown in Table 3 and 4.

The number of plants shedding pollen was recorded at S. Charleston to determine the percentage of pollinator plants in each TC Blend. Shortly before harvest, ten ears were randomly selected from plants in a 50-foot length of row in the center of each plot. In the TC Blend plots, only the male sterile grain parent plants were sampled for ears. These ears were shelled and a subsample of grain from each plot was submitted to the Optimum® Grains Laboratory (Urbandale, IA) for grain nutrient composition. Oil, protein, and starch content were determined by near infrared transmittance (NIRT) analysis. Metabolizable energy (M.E.) and lysine were estimated by calculation. Final plant stand, number of stalk lodged plants (stalk breakage below the ear), and barren (including nubbin ears) plants were recorded at harvest. Plots were harvested by combine and grain yields were adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

RESULTS

Growing Season

Drier soil conditions in late April resulted in earlier planting at S. Charleston than at Hoytville (Tables 3-4). Although weather throughout the growing season was warmer and drier than normal at S. Charleston, there was little visual evidence of drought stress. Temperatures were also above normal at Hoytville and precipitation was below average except during July. Drier than normal weather in August and September promoted rapid grain drydown at both test sites (Tables 3-4).

Agronomic Data

Grain yields of TC Blends ranged from 139 to 159 Bu/A at Hoytville (Table 5) and 128 to 159 Bu/A at S. Charleston (Table 6). TC Blend yields averaged about 6% (9 Bu/A) less and about 3% more (4 Bu/A) than yields of the checks at Hoytville and S. Charleston , respectively. At Hoytville, half of the TC Blend entries (Beck 5405TC, LG Seeds 2604TC, Pfister SK2652-19, Pioneer 34K79, Golden Harvest EX99236HOC, DeKalb 6326TC, AgriGold A6460TC, and Beck 5727TC) produced yields that were not significantly different from the top yielding check hybrid (Pioneer 34K77); only three TC Blends yielded less than the lowest yielding check hybrid. At S. Charleston, six TC Blends (Golden Harvest EX99236HOC, Beck 5727TC, AgriGold A6460TC, AgriGold A6490TC,Pfister SK2652-19,Beck 5405TC) significantly outyielded two of the check hybrids.Only one of the checks (Pfister 2652) produced yields that were not significantly different from the top yielding six TC Blends. All 16 TC Blends produced yields greater than or comparable to the lowest yielding check hybrid.

Grain drydown at both test locations was rapid and the grain moisture levels of TC Blends and checks was below 20% (Tables 5 and 6). There were significant differences in grain moisture among the TC Blends and check hybrids. Grain moisture levels of TC Blends ranged from 11.8 to 16.8 at Hoytville and 12.3 to 17.3 at S. Charleston.

Differences in harvest population between TC Blends and normal hybrids were small at both test sites(Tables 5 and 6). At Hoytville and S. Charleston, final stands averaged about 2% less for TC Blends than for the check hybrids. The percentage of plants shedding pollen during anthesis at S. Charleston averaged 6 to 7% in the TC Blends (data not shown).

Stalk lodging averaged 2% or less at both sites. Lodging was similar for TC Blends and normal corn checks (Tables 5 and 6).

Grain Quality Data

TopCross grain produced by the TC Blends was characterized by higher oil content than grain of normal corn hybrids ( 7.3% vs. 3.6% at Hoytville; 7.3% vs. 3.9% at S. Charleston) (Tables 5 and 6). There were significant differences in grain oil content among the 16 TC Blends at each location with oil levels ranging from 6.6% to 8.4% at Hoytville and 6.6% to 8.2% at S. Charleston. The TC Blends with the highest and lowest grain oil content were the same at Hoytville and S. Charleston. Estimates of metabolizable energy for non-ruminants were consistently greater in TopCross high oil grain than in grain of normal hybrids (Tables 5 and 6). Grain protein levels of TopCross and normal grain were comparable at Hoytville but protein levels averaged 1.5 percentage points higher in grain of normal corn than in TopCross grain at S. Charleston (Tables 5 and 6). Estimates of lysine content were higher in TopCross grain than in grain of normal corn hybrids at both locations, whereas starch levels were lower in TopCross grain compared to grain of normal corn (Tables 5 and 6).

Since premiums and relative feed value are based on the oil content of TopCross grain, growers need to plant TC Blends with high yield potential and grain oil content to maximize their profits. 1999 test results indicate that TC Blends with high levels of kernel oil and grain yield potential similar to normal corn hybrids are available. High grain oil content and grain yield were not mutually exclusive in the TC Blends evaluated. One of the highest yielding TC Blends at both test sites was also characterized by the highest grain oil content. The oil content of TopCross grain from TC Blends was 3.4 to 3.7 percentage points higher than in normal corn checks. Stalk quality (as measured by stalk lodging) and grain moisture levels of TC Blends were comparable to normal corn hybrids.

TopCross®, TC-Blend® and Optimum® are registered trademarks of Optimum Quality Grains, L.L.C.

Table 1. Sources of high oil TC Blend^® seed products and hybrids entered in the 1999 High Oil Corn TC Blend^® Performance Tests.

Table 2. Test plot locations, cultural practices and soil types for the 1999 High Oil Corn TC Blend^® Performance Tests.

Table 3. Precipitation for 1999 High Oil Corn TC Blend^® Performance Test sites.

Table 4. Air temperatures for 1999 High Oil Corn TC Blend^® Performance Test sites.

Table 5. Agronomic performance and grain quality data from the High Oil Corn TC Blend^® Performance Test at Hoytville, Ohio, 1999.

						Grain Composition on a Dry Matter Basis*
Type	Brand/Hybrid	Yield Bu/A	% Grain Moist	Final Stand Plants/A	% Stalk Lodged	% Oil	% Protein	% Starch	M.E. (Kcal/lb)	% Lysine
High Oil TC Blends	AgriGold A6460TC	152	12.7	28390	2	6.9	9.0	68.0	2163	0.39
	AgriGold A6490TC	149	14.4	29770	3	7.6	9.0	66.9	2166	0.40
	Beck 5405TC	159	12.4	28460	2	7.2	8.7	67.7	2171	0.39
	Beck 5727TC	151	15.8	28390	3	7.7	9.0	67.0	2193	0.40
	DeKalb DK595TC	139	11.8	28680	2	6.6	9.9	67.6	2115	0.39
	DeKalb DK621TC	143	13.7	29220	3	7.0	8.7	68.2	2160	0.38
	DeKalb 6326TC	153	12.4	28640	2	6.9	8.1	68.7	2150	0.39
	GoldenHarvest H-8695HOC	148	13.2	28350	3	7.6	8.2	67.1	2177	0.37
	GoldenHarvestEX99236HOC	153	14.1	29800	3	8.4	9.1	66.0	2177	0.41
	LG Seeds 2577TC	140	14.0	29330	1	7.3	8.8	67.4	2182	0.39
	LG Seeds 2604TC	156	12.5	29040	2	7.3	8.7	67.4	2177	0.39
	Pfister SK2652-19	154	12.8	28970	4	7.2	9.1	67.2	2143	0.39
	Pfister SK3049-19	140	14.8	27590	2	6.9	9.1	67.9	2180	0.39
	Pioneer 34K79	153	14.0	27950	2	7.8	9.7	66.4	2162	0.41
	Select Seed 4787	148	13.0	28930	2	7.1	8.8	67.8	2172	0.39
	Select Seed 4897	146	16.8	26860	2	7.5	9.1	67.0	2197	0.40
	AVG	149	13.7	28626	2	7.3	8.8	67.4	2168	0.39
Normal Hybrids	DeKalb DK595	155	12.5	28710	1	3.1	9.3	73.6	2010	0.34
	Pfister 2652	156	13.2	29400	3	3.7	8.5	73.0	2052	0.34
	Pioneer 34K77	162	14.0	29550	1	4.1	9.2	72.8	2086	0.36
	AVG	158	13.2	29220	2	3.6	9.0	73.1	2049	0.35
	CV%	5	5	3	41	3	4	2	1	2
	LSD (0.05)	12	1.2	1348	1	0.3	0.6	0.7	29	0.03

*Oil, Protein and Starch by NIRT; M.E. and Lysine by calculation.
   M.E. is Non-Ruminant Metabolizable Energy Content.

Table 6. Agronomic performance and grain quality data from the High Oil Corn TC Blend^®Performance Test at South Charleston, Ohio, 1999.

						Grain Composition on a Dry Matter Basis*
Type	Brand/Hybrid	Yield Bu/A	% Grain Moist	Final Stand Plants/A	% Stalk Lodged	% Oil	% Protein	% Starch	M.E. (Kcal/lb)	% Lysine
High Oil TC Blends	AgriGold A6460TC	150	15.2	27530	1	7.3	8.8	67.8	2258	0.41
	AgriGold A6490TC	148	14.9	29210	1	8.1	8.9	63.9	2195	0.41
	Beck 5405TC	147	13.7	27940	2	7.2	8.7	68.1	2241	0.40
	Beck 5727TC	151	16.7	28340	2	7.5	9.3	67.3	2284	0.42
	DeKalb DK595TC	128	12.6	27820	1	6.6	9.7	68.1	2159	0.40
	DeKalb DK621TC	138	16.7	28280	2	6.9	9.1	68.5	2240	0.40
	DeKalb 6326TC	138	13.4	27650	0	7.1	9.0	68.0	2209	0.40
	GoldenHarvestH-2515HOC	133	12.4	27990	1	6.9	8.8	68.3	2227	0.40
	GoldenHarvestEX99236HOC	159	13.0	29390	1	8.2	9.2	66.0	2368	0.44
	LG Seeds 2577TC	143	15.2	28230	0	7.6	9.2	67.4	2270	0.42
	LG Seeds 2604TC	144	14.5	27530	1	7.3	8.8	67.6	2232	0.40
	Pfister SK2652-19	147	14.9	28280	3	7.2	9.0	67.8	2236	0.41
	Pfister SK3049-19	139	17.3	25960	1	6.9	8.7	68.3	2260	0.40
	Pioneer 34K79	142	12.3	28280	2	7.7	9.6	67.0	2182	0.41
	Select Seed 4897	135	14.4	28460	1	7.7	8.8	67.1	2245	0.41
	Select Seed 5127	142	16.3	26890	2	7.1	8.5	68.4	2259	0.40
	AVG	143	14.6	27986	1	7.3	9.0	67.5	2242	0.41
Normal Hybrids	Dekalb DK595	131	12.6	29040	3	3.3	11.0	72.3	2036	0.37
	Pfister 2652	150	14.3	27700	2	4.2	10.1	71.6	2126	0.38
	Pioneer 34K77	135	14.1	29270	1	4.1	10.4	72.3	2076	0.37
	AVG	139	13.7	28670	2	3.9	10.5	72.1	2079	0.38
	CV%	6	13	3	77	5	6	1	2	3
	LSD (0.05)	14	3.2	1324	2	0.6	0.9	1.6	76	0.03

*Oil, Protein and Starch by NIRT; M.E. and Lysine by calculation.
   M.E. is Non-Ruminant Metabolizable Energy Content.