Performance of experimental corn hybrids in Illinois, 1959

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION of better-performing inbred lines and hybrids remain an important objective of the IllinoisAgricultural Experiment Station.This report summarizes the results of performance trials of experimental corn hybrids conducted in 1958.About 750 different hybrids were compared in nearly 6,000 plots.Most of the hybrids were developed by the senior author.Data from pre- liminary tests involving specialized phases of the Illinois corn-research program are not included in this bulletin.The University of Illinois does not produce hybrid seed corn in commercial quantities.Hybrids that include new inbred lines may be produced under the "delayed-release" program adopted by the states in the corn belt.Multiplication of a new line is handled by the Station, and the production of single crosses in quantity is handled by the Illi- nois Seed Producers Association, Champaign, Illinois.If a new Illinois experimental hybrid gives satisfactory performance, the parental lineseventually are released for use by seedsmen.In order to make the results of corn research more quickly available to the public, the University of Illinois has adopted a slight modification of the "delayed-release" policy as it pertains to Illinois-developed in- bred lines.Inbred lines of corn developed by the University of Illinois may be released to the public when they have demonstrated superior combining ability for yield, standability, disease resistance, insect re- sistance, chemical composition, male sterility, or other characters.Such Illinois lines may form a part of a new hybrid or be used in other ways by corn breeders.Inbred lines of corn developed by others will not be released without their approval.Hand-pollinated seed of released Illinois inbred lines usually is available for a fee in packets containing 25 to 100 kernels.New releases are announced annually about April 1.