TruStart™ - The Next Generation of Supersweet Hybrids is Here

For two decades, supersweet hybrids have dominated the fresh market. Coveted by consumers and growers alike, this group of hybrids is known for its sweet taste and extended shelf life. Yet the same trait that gives it its signature taste and excellent storage properties is also its Achilles heel. Traditional supersweet kernels have extremely limited starch reserves, and that can mean poor emergence and stand establishment, especially under cooler conditions. But that is about to change.

Developed by Syngenta Seeds, using technology licensed from the University of Florida, Syngenta is excited to offer sweet corn growers the next generation of ROGERS brand supersweet hybrids. These varieties deliver unparalleled seed quality, superior vigor and uniform stands - without sacrificing taste, quality or shelf life.

It's All In the Genes

The breakthrough came with the discovery of TruStart. Plants that carry the TruStart gene provide the genetic foundation for this new line of supersweet hybrids and consistently produce high quality seed. The difference is in the seed itself. Kernels from traditional supersweet hybrids have little starch reserves to use as an initial energy source during germination and emergence. TruStart hybrids get off to a stronger, more uniform emergence because of their higher starch reserves. And that better start translates into more harvest, better pack and ultimately, more yield.

Historically, higher starch levels have equated to a significant reduction in taste or shelf life, but that's not the case with ROGERS' line of TruStart hybrids. Like traditional supersweet hybrids, TruStart varieties produce kernels with two-to-three times the complex sugars of standard corn varieties. As a result, there is little difference in sweet corn quality between ROGERS improved line of supersweet hybrids and the traditional supersweet lines - as long as the TruStart hybrids are harvested at their prime.

Harvest Timing is Critical

Like most fresh market supersweet hybrids, TruStart hybrids should be harvested at 78-80% moisture. If moisture levels fall below 76%, starch levels in the kernels begin to increase while sugar levels slowly fall. As a result, if the crop if left in the field too long, sweet corn quality begins to decline. However, once the hybrid has been harvested, its post-harvest shelf life is similar to that of traditional supersweets.

In fact, as the chart below shows, even two weeks post-harvest, produce-quality testing found TruStart hybrids and SuperSweet Jubilee Plus, the post-harvest quality standard, nearly identical on every key taste attribute.