Narendra Kumar Yadav, Sanwal Singh Meena, Ajay Kumar Sharma, Narayan Lal Panwar, Bheru Lal Salvi and S.C. Jain
Abstract
Sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata) is an important high-value vegetable crop cultivated for its tender kernels, high sugar content, and wide consumer acceptability. Unlike field maize, the presence of recessive genes delays the conversion of sugars into starch, resulting in superior taste and nutritional quality. This review paper comprehensively examines the origin, botanical characteristics, nutritional importance, and environmental requirements of sweet corn, with a particular focus on the influence of temperature, rainfall, oil, light, humidity, and wind on its growth and yield. The study also highlights the effects of environmental factors on physiological processes such as germination, pollination, and kernel development. Overall, this review emphasizes that sustainable sweet corn production depends on the effective management of environmental factors and the adoption of improved agronomic and technological interventions to enhance productivity, quality, and profitability.