Corn problem

[curly_kate]

I'm growing Golden Bantam corn, and I've noticed this problem on a few of my stalks.

I've been looking for it online, but haven't been able to find anything. I'm in zone 5, and the weather was unusually cool for a few weeks, but it's been in the high 80s/low 90s the past 2 weeks. We've gotten decent rain (1" or so a week).

Any ideas?

 

[curly_kate]

So when I looked at the picture, I noticed it was kinda hard to see what's wrong, so here's the description: It looks like the tassle at the top was forming an ear, but it's gotten stripped back. I've had no other damage to my other veggies, and, except for 2 other stalks, the rest of the corn looks OK.

 

[897tgigvib]

My Gaspe Flint Corn did that a little. A few kernels form at the bottom of the pollinating tassle.

I don't worry about it. It is just the plant making an emergency backup for reproduction. I understand that is how some teosinte normally do it. The modern Teosinte varieties are not quite exactly the same as the teosinte that corn is descended from. I read years ago that the Indians of south and central america developed corn from the teosinte native to where they lived, and then with trade, the precursors of corn crossed, followed by selections for plants that made ears separate from tassles. Those that made kernels at the base of the tassles they threw out.

My aunt Eleanor gave me a large book by the arizona highway foundation or some name like that, who published excellent photographic books. That was a long time ago, and looky! I remembered what I read!

 

[seedcorn]

That is fairly common. Surprised insects didn't attack it, start smut.