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in sweeter su-1 and sh-2 varieties.lent because sugar conversion to starch is m chickens. Zein in dent corn tends to be very low inSteers not only make greater gains when fed waxy Guide H-232 ¥ Page 4 Reprinted February 2003Las Cruces, NMNew Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Departmentbowls (2"). The diameter of the cob should be rela- Cooperative Extension Service NEWMEXICOSTAE This publication is scheduled to be updated and reissued 2/08.HistoryFive hundred years ago, Columbus became one ofthe first Europeans to set eyes on maize or corn (Zeamays), the foundation of most great New World civili-zations, including those of the Incas, Mayans, and Az-tecs. In 1540, Coronado found pueblo Indians grow-ing corn under irrigation in the American Southwest.The Jamestown Colony learned how to grow cornfrom the Indians in 1608, and corn helped keep thePilgrims alive during the winter of 1620.The inability of corn to survive in the wild on itsown makes its ancestry a puzzle. Probably the oldestknown remains of corn are cobs dating back 7000years found in Tehucan, Mexico. Most corn historiansTeosinte Pop ENDOSPERM Fig. 1. Endosperm distribution in five types of corn kernels. To find more resources for your business, home, or family, visit the College of Agriculture and Home Economicson the World Wide Web at www.cahe.nmsu.edu Cooperative Extension Service Guide H-232 This publication is scheduled to be updated and reissued 2/08.HistoryFive hundred years ago, Columbus became one ofthe first Europeans to set eyes on maize or corn (Zeamays), the foundation of most great New World civili-zations, including those of the Incas, Mayans, and Az-tecs. In 1540, Coronado found pueblo Indians grow-The inability of corn to survive in the wild on itsown makes its ancestry a puzzle. Probably the oldestTeosinte is probably oneof its primary ancestors. An eight-row race called was known to have been grown inthe Southwest about 700 AD.Corn ClassificationCorn is one of the most diverse grain crops foundin nature. Selection pressure by both humans and na-ture has resulted in various types of corn generally(tissue surrounding the embryo that provides food forThe most common types of corn include flint,flour, dent, pop, sweet, and waxy. The physical ap-A seventh type of corn called pod or tunicate mayalso be characterized by flint, dent, flour, sweet, pop,Kernels of flint corn have mostly hard, glassy en-dosperms with smooth, hard seed coats (pericarps). Pop Flint Dent Flour Sweet Hard Soft Germ Sugary ENDOSPERM Fig. 1. Endosperm distribution in five types of corn kernels. To find more resources for your business, home, or family, visit the College of Agriculture and Home Economicson the World Wide Web at nmsu.edu