Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of Hybrid Corn and the Seed Corn Industry

  • Chapter
Handbook of Maize

This is a history of the development of hybrid corn (Zea maize L.) and of the developing seed corn industry by review of the literature and by the personal testimony of colleagues. I identify, describe, and discuss pertinent background germplasm and provide a sampling of seed corn company histories. Some highlights of seed organizations and seed improvement associations are given. Charles Darwin's views in “The Effects of Cross- and Self-Fertilization in the Vegetable Kingdom” were instrumental in the development of commercial hybrid corn. I trace his hybrid vigor idea through Harvard University, Michigan Agricultural College, University of Illinois, and finally to Connecticut. Charles Darwin's views in “The Variation of Plants and Animals under Domestication” explain why only popular, widely adapted open-pollinated varieties persisted in the background of U.S. hybrid corn. Reid Yellow Dent contributed 56%.of the germplasm in the documented background of current U.S. hybrid corn and other popular varieties, such as Lancaster Sure Crop and Minnesota 13, contributed the other 44%. These widely adapted varieties contributed to widely adapted hybrids. Corn hybrids were first commercially grown in the early 1930s when the annual U.S. corn yields averaged 1,518 kg per ha (24.2 bushels per acre), and corn production averaged 51 million Mg (2 billion bushels). In 2007, the average U.S. corn yield was estimated at 9,474 kg per ha (151.1 bushels per acre), and U.S. corn production was 332.7 million Mg (13.1 billion bushels). These increases were caused by better hybrids, improved cultural practices, and biotechnology. Corn has become the highest tonnage crop worldwide. Seed corn companies have grown larger, better, and fewer over time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson, E. 1944. The sources of effective germplasm in hybrid maize. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 31:355–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, R.M. 2007. A lesson learned. Seed World. June p.22–26. Grand Forks, ND.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. 1894. Portrait and biographical record of Tazewell and Mason counties. Chicago Biographical Publishing Co. Chicago, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. 1930. James Reid. J. Heredity 21:402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. 1995. Dairyland Seed, 95 years of success. Dairyland Seed. West Bend, WI

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. 2006. Iowa Seed Directory—for seed grown in 2006. Iowa Crop Improvement Association. Ames, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, A., and M.L. Wilson. 1915. Corn in Montana. Montana AES Bull. 107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beal, W.J. 1876. Rep. Mich. Board Agr. p, 212–213. Mich. Agr. Col. East Lansing, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beal, W.J. 1881. Rep. Mich. Board Agr. p, 98–153. Mich. Agr. Col. East Lansing, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boss, A. 1929. Willet Martin Hays. J. Heredity 20:496–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brackman, A.C. 1980. A delicate arrangement. Times Books. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd. Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh, H.M. 1959. Seed, Soil, and Science. The Lakeside Press. Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornell, C. 1958. 1893–1958 Historical notes and anecdotes of seventy-five years. American Seed Trade Association. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crabb, A.R. 1948. The hybrid-corn makers—prophets of plenty. Rutgers Univ. Press. New Brunswick, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crissey, F. 1920. James Reid, master of corn. Country Gentleman 85 (38). Sept 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J.O. 1905. History of Champaign County. Urbana Free Library. Urbana, IL

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin, C.R. 1859 On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favoured races in the struggle for life. John Murray. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin, C.R. 1868. The variation of animals and plants under domestication. John Murray. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • London. Darwin, C.R. 1875. The effects of self- and cross-fertilization in the vegetable kingdom. John Murray. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Beer, G. 1965. Charles Darwin: a Scientific Biography. Anchor Books Doubleday & Co. Inc. Garden City, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeKruif, P. 1928. Hunger fighters. Harcourt Brace. Rahway, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVries, H. 1907. Plant breeding. Open Court Publishing Co. Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobzhansky, Th. 1947. Adaptive changes induced by natural selection in Drosophila. Evolution1: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • East, E.M. and D.F. Jones. 1919. Inbreeding and outbreeding. J.B. Lippencott Co. Philadelphiaand London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Encyclopedia Britannica. 1983. Charles Darwin. 15th edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everett, E.E. 1935. James Reid. Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. 15:477–478 ChicagoBiographical Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fehr, S. 2007. An endangered species? Seed World. May p.4–6. Issues Ink. Grand Forks, ND

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, B. 1976. Poor Richard: The almanacks for the years 1733–1758. Paddington Press LTD. New York and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, R.B. 1978. Charles Darwin, a companion. Dawson Archon. W&J Mackay Ltd. Chatham, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallauer, A.R., W.A. Russell, and O.S. Smith. 1983. Quantitative analysis of Iowa Stiff StalkSynthetic. p.359–360. In J.P. Gustafsen (ed). Proc. 15th Stadler Genetics Symposium. Washington University, St. Louis, MO.June 12–16. University of Missouri, AES. Columbia, MO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, H.K. 1913. Report of the plant breeder. Conn. AES Rep. No.37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, H.K. 1956. I saw hybrid corn develop. p.48–81. In Dolores Wilkinson (ed.) Eleventhhybrid corn industry-research conference. 28 29 Nov. Hyatt Regency Hotel Chicago, IL. Am.Seed Trade Assoc. 601 13th St. NW. Suite 570. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, N.L. 1989. Descendents of John Eby Hershey and Anna Mellinger Hershey. SutterHouse. Lititz, PA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, P.G. 1944. Records of the Holden, Wilson, and other related families. Belleville Publ. Belleville, MI

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, P.G. 1948. Corn breeding at the University of Illinois 1895–1900. Archives. MichiganState Univ.

    Google Scholar 

  • East Lansing, MI. Hopkins, C.G. 1903. Methods of maintaining the productive capacity of Illinois soils. Illinois AESCirc. 68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, C.G. 1913. The Illinois system of permanent fertility. Illinois AES Circ. 167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, M.T. 1934. Methods of estimating the performance of double-crosses in corn. Agron.J. 26:199–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, M.T. 1935. The effect of inbreeding within inbred lines of maize upon the hybrids madeafter successive generations of selfing. Iowa State College J. Science 9:429–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, M.T. 1936. Corn Improvement. In E.S. Bressman (ed) Yearbook of Agriculture 1936. USDA. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, M.T. and A.M. Brunson. 1932. Methods of testing inbred lines of maize in crossbre combinations. Agron. J. 24:523–530.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, I.J. 1957. The role of the experiment stations in basic research relating to corn breeding. p.31–36. In: W. Heckendorn and B.H. Blankenship, Jr. (ed.) Twelfth hybrid corn industry research conference. 4 Dec. and 5 Dec. LaSalle Hotel Chicago, IL. Am. Seed Trade Assoc. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D.F. 1917. Dominance of linked factors as a means of accounting for heterosis. Genetics 2: 466–497.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D.F. 1927. Double crossed Burr-Leaming seed corn. Conn. Ext. Bull. 108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraft, K. and P. Kraft. 1967. Luther Burbank the wizard and the man. Meredith Press. New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, J. 2003. A dying breed. Nature 421:568–570.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, A.L. 1972. 50 years of service—A history of seed certification in Illinois. Illinois CropImprovement Association. Urbana, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCluer, G.W. 1892. Corn crossing. Illinois AES Bull. 21:83–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFee, B. and H. Ohm. Small grain breeding at Purdue University. Purdue Agronomy—Alumni, Friends, News. Spring 2007 p.8, 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, E.G. 1916 The Corn Crops. Macmillan. New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moores, R.G. 1970. Fields of rich toil. Univ. of Illinois Press. Urbana, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, G.E. and F.D. Gardner. 1893. Field experiments with corn, 1892. Illinois AES Bull. 25:179–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, G.E. and F.D. Gardner. 1894. Field experiments with corn, 1893. Illinois AES Bull. 31:359–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, G.E. and T.F. Hunt. 1889. Field experiments with corn, 1888. Illinois AES Bull. 4:48–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosher, M.L. 1962. Early Iowa corn yield tests and related programs. Iowa State Univ. Press. Ames IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, P.J., H.L. Walster, and T.H. Hopper. 1928. Corn for North Dakota. North Dakota Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 207: 17–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, O.G. 1915. One great accomplishment in corn breeding.. Breed. Gaz. 67:383–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richey, F.D. 1945. Isolating better foundation inbreds for use in corn hybrids. Genetics 30:455–471.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, T.H. Jr. 1999. The story of the DEKALB “Ag.” Carlith Printing, Inc. Carpentersville, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seabrook, J. 2007. Sowing for apocalypse. The New Yorker. Aug. 27:61–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamel, A.D. 1901. Seed corn and some standard varieties for Illinois. Illinois AES. Bul. 63:29–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamel, A.D. 1907. The art of seed selection and breeding. In G.W. Hill (ed). Yearbook of Agriculture, 1907. USDA. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoesmith, V.M. 1910. The study of corn. Orange Judd. New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shull, G.H. 1908. The composition of a field of maize. Amer. Breed. Assoc. Rpt. 4:296–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shull, G.H. 1909. A pure line method of corn breeding. Amer. Breed. Assoc. Rpt. 5:51–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Shull, G.H. 1910. Hybridization methods in corn breeding. Amer. Breeders Mag. 1:98–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shull, G.H. 1911.The genotypes of maize. Amer. Nat. 45:234–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shull, G.H. 1952. Beginnings of the heterosis concept. p. 14–48 In J.W. Gowen (ed.) Heterosis. Iowa State College Press. Ames, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sizer, R. And W. Silag. 1981. Holden and the corn gospel trains. Palimpset 62 (3):66–71. Iowa State Cultural Affairs. Des Moines, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprague, G.F. 1980. The changing role of the private and public sectors in corn breeding. p.1–9.In H. Loden and D. Wilkinson (ed.) Thirty-fifth annual corn and sorghum research conference. 9–11 Dec. Hyatt Regency Hotel Chicago, IL. Am. Seed Trade Assoc.1030 15th St., N.W.—Suite 964. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturtevant, E. L. 1899. Varieties of corn. USDA Bul. 57. GPO. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 1990. A retrospective view of corn genetic resources. Jour. Heredity 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 1999. Background of U.S. hybrid corn. Crop Sci. 39:601–626.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 2000. Temperate corn: background, behavior, and breeding. In Arnel Hallauer (ed). Specialty Corns, CRC Press. Boca Raton, London, New York, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A F. 2004a. Champaign County, Illinois, and the origin of hybrid corn. PBR 24:42–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 2004b. Background of U.S. hybrid corn II: Breeding, climate, and food.. Crop Sci. 44:370–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 2004c. Persistent and popular germplasm in seventy centuries of corn evolution. p. 133–232. In C.W. Smith, J. Betran, and E.C.A. Runge (ed.). Corn; origin, history, technology, and production. John Wiley & Sons. Inc. Hoboken, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 2006a. Adaptedness and heterosis in corn and mule hybrids. Crop Sci. 46:528–543.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 2006b. Background and importance of Troyer Reid Corn. Crop Sci. 46:2460–2467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, A.F. 2007. Background and importance of Minnesota 13 Corn. Crop Sci. 47:905–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troyer Bros. 1916. Prize winning seed corn catalogue. Troyer Memorial Library. LaFontaine, IN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, C.E. 1931. Origin and development of some modern corn cultivars. Ann. Rpt. 31. Ind. Corn Grow. Assoc. Purdue University. W.Lafayette, IN.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN/FAO. 2002. United Nations. Food and Agricultural Organization. Dept. of Statistics. Rome, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA/NASS. 2006. United States Department of Agriculture. National. Agricultural Statistical Service. 1400 Independence Ave. S.W. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, H.A. 1923. Burnett's Iodent. Wallaces Farmer.Vol.46, No.6. Des Moines, IA..

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, H.A. 1955. Public and private contributions to hybrid corn—past and future. p. 107–115.In: W. Heckendorn and J. Gregory (ed.) Tenth hybrid corn industry research conference. 30 Nov. and 1 Dec. LaSalle Hotel Chicago, IL. Am. Seed Trade Assoc. Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, H.A. and W.L. Brown. 1956. Corn and its early Fathers. The Michigan State UniversityPress. The Lakeside Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, H.A. and E.N. Bressman. 1923. Corn and corn growing. Wallace Publishing Co. DesMoines, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, H.A. and E.N. Bressman. 1949. Corn and corn growing 5th Edition revised by J.J. Newlin, Edgar Anderson, and E.N. Bressman. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Sciences, Chicago

    A. Forrest Troyer PhD

Authors
  1. A. Forrest Troyer PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602–7223, USA

    Jeffrey L. Bennetzen

  2. USDA Plant Gene Expression Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA, 94710, USA

    Sarah Hake

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science + Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Troyer, A.F. (2009). Development of Hybrid Corn and the Seed Corn Industry. In: Bennetzen, J.L., Hake, S. (eds) Handbook of Maize. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77863-1_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation