Tuesday, November 6, 2007
142-5

Identifying Corn Hybrids for Ethanol Production.

Chad D. Lee1, William Pearce1, Ronald Curd1, Michael D. Montross2, and Wei Chen1. (1) University of Kentucky, 1405 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40546-0213, (2) University of Kentcuky, 128 Charles E. Barnhart Building, Lexington, KY 40546-0276

Increased demand for ethanol production from maize has increased interest in developing hybrids for ethanol production. Several studies were conducted to determine if ethanol production differed across hybrids. Thirty-two hybrids were grown in a randomized complete block design with four replications and four locations for yield. The same hybrids were grown in one location and subjected to controlled pollination to avoid xenia effects on kernel. Corn kernels harvested from the controlled pollination hybrids were analyzed for ethanol production, starch, protein, and test weight. These parameters were compared with each other and with grain yield to determine significant relationships. Higher starch concentrations increased ethanol per dry weight of corn (r2 = 0.46, p< 0.001), while lower protein concentrations increased ethanol per dry weight (r2=54, p< 0.001). Grain yield did not affect ethanol per dry weight (p=0.13), but higher grain yields produced more ethanol per area (r2=0.90, p<0.001).