Yield components of sweet corn in greenhouse depending on the method of production and genotype

Sweet corn is a vegetable that is being increasingly cultivated in the world because of its nutritional value and wide application. Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine the influence of different crop establishment methods (direct seeding and transplanting) and genotypes (Sweet Nugget and 255 DDST) on the yield components of sweet corn under greenhouse conditions. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted in 2024 in a protected area (greenhouse with dimensions 41x8x3.5 m) at an altitude of 225 m (43°05'38.31" N, 21 °96'77.54" E) in the village of Bogojevce, near Leskovac, southern Serbia. Sowing was carried out on May 18, 2024, with a spacing of 70 cm between rows, 20 cm between rows within the strip, and 20 cm between plants. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 and Minitab (Trial version). ANOVA and LSD tests evaluated factor effects at p0.05 and pO.01, while Pearson's correlation analyzed trait relationships. Results: The results of this study show that the investigated factors had a significant impact on yield components. Ahigher average ear weight (160.08 g) was achieved in the 255 DDST hybrid, while in the Sweet Nugget hybrid, it was 136.50 g. Transplantation has an advantage over direct sowing, especially regarding ear length and diameter. In the hybrid Sweet Nugget, an average ear length of 21.68 cm and a diameter of 3.61 cm were measured, while in the hybrid 255 DDST, a length of 20.81 cm and a diameter of 3.61 cm were obtained. Statistical analysis showed that the method of sowing and the interaction method of sowing x genotype had a significant effect on the length and diameter of the ear, while the genotype did not significantly affect the length of the ear. A strong and positive correlation was found between the total mass of the piston and the length of the piston (r=0.63 ** ), and the total mass of the piston and the diameter of the piston (r=0.60 ** ), while a negative correlation was recorded between the total mass of the piston and randman (r =- 0.47 ** ). Conclusion: It was concluded that transplantation is a more efficient way of establishing crops in greenhouse production conditions, which is reflected in higher values of yield components. These results provide important information for the optimization of sweet corn production under sheltered conditions.