In 1988 we crossed sweet corn x embryo marker created by us with the purpose of obtaining sweet corn maternal haploids. In segregation of the cross obtained we found single kernels with red colored sweet corn endosperm. In observation of generations with red kernels during 8 years we succeeded in stabilizing this character (see Figures 1 and 2). For 2 years we kept the population of red sweet corn by intracultivar pollination under ear bags.

Based on 25 individual plants of red sweet corn, a series of traits of agronomic importance were measured. The results obtained are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Plant and ear traits of red Bulgarian sweet corn.
 

Character	Mean ± SD
Plant height (cm)	143.4 ± 0.9
Tassel length (cm)	30.8 ± 0.6
Leaf number	9.4 ± 0.1
Length of the nearest to the ear leaf (cm)	68.8 ± 0.8
Width of the nearest to the ear leaf (cm)	6.7 ± 0.1
Ear insertion height (cm)	28.8 ± 0.9
Ear length (cm)	16.9 ± 0.4
Ear diameter (cm)	4.0 ± 0.06
Number of kernel rows	14.0 � 16.0
Kernel number per row	22.8 ± 1.1
Weight of 1000 kernels (g)	225.9 ± 5.4

This research was supported by grant B-602 from the National Fund for Scientific Investigations of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science.

Figure 1. Ear of red Bulgarian sweet corn.

Figure 2. Ears of: left - sweet corn; right � red Bulgarian sweet corn.
 

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