Observing sweet corn that has tasseled early is the perfect height for capturing this scene on video. Once the corn tassels, the pollen is released. It is the movement of the corn plant in the wind that will cause the pollen to move from the tassels at the top of the plant, to the maturing corn silks below. The pollen must land on each individual white silk, as each thread of silk is attached to a single corn kernel.
Although, having only received a 10-minute briefing on corn pollination by family members that grow a significant amount of it, I would recommend checking out the additional reading/resource links below.
Additional reading:
Sciences, Plantsciweb@missouri.edu Division of Plant. "Corn Pollination, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly-Pt 3." Integrated Pest Management. University of Missouri, 31 July 2012. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://ipm.missouri.edu/ipcm/2012/7/corn-pollination-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-pt-3/>.
Heiniger, Ronnie W. "The Impact of Early Drought on Corn Yield." Yadkin County Center. NC Cooperative Extension, n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://yadkin.ces.ncsu.edu/department-of-crop-science/north-carolina-corn-kernels/corn-production-information/the-impact-of-early-drought-on-corn-yield/>.
"Hand Pollination: Corn." Seed Savers Exchange . Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://www.seedsavers.org/site/pdf/corn-hp.pdf>.
"Forecasted corn yield potential and attainable yields." K-State Agronomy :: eUpdate Issue 467. Kansas State University, 25 July 2014. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://webapp.agron.ksu.edu/agr_social/eu_article.throck?article_id=293>.
Resources for Teachers:
"Inherited Traits in the Living Corn Necklace (Grades 6-8)." Inherited Traits in the Living Corn Necklace (Grades 6-8). National Agriculture in the Classroom, n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/matrix/lessonplan_print.cfm?lpid=543>.
"The Great Corn Adventure: Teacher's Guide." The Great Corn Adventure. University of Illinois Extension, n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://extension.illinois.edu/corn/guide.cfm>.
Plant & Soil Sciences eLibrary Lessons:
Russell, Ken , and Leah Sandall. "Corn Breeding: Types of Cultivars." Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1099683867&topicorder=1&maxto=9&minto=1>.
Russell, Ken, and Leah Sandall. "Corn Breeding: Lessons From the Past." Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1075412493&topicorder=1&maxto=12&minto=1>.
"Inherited Traits in the Living Corn Necklace (Grades 6-8)." Inherited Traits in the Living Corn Necklace (Grades 6-8). National Agriculture in the Classroom, n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/matrix/lessonplan_print.cfm?lpid=543>.
"The Great Corn Adventure: Teacher's Guide." The Great Corn Adventure. University of Illinois Extension, n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://extension.illinois.edu/corn/guide.cfm>.
Plant & Soil Sciences eLibrary Lessons:
Russell, Ken , and Leah Sandall. "Corn Breeding: Types of Cultivars." Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1099683867&topicorder=1&maxto=9&minto=1>.
Russell, Ken, and Leah Sandall. "Corn Breeding: Lessons From the Past." Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1075412493&topicorder=1&maxto=12&minto=1>.
