Is Fruit Corn Genetically Modified? Nutritional Value and Ways to Eat It Explained

Recently fruit supermarkets and large hypermarkets have all been selling fruit corn, priced several times higher than ordinary corn, and for a while opinions have been divided, so is fruit corn really genetically modified? How should it be eaten? And what nutritional value does it actually have?

1. Is fruit corn genetically modified?

Fruit corn is developed through hybridization technology and is completely different from genetically modified varieties. Sweet corn is a type that differs from other corn due to the presence of one or several genes. The flavor of sweet corn is mostly determined by its sweetness, and sweetness is in turn affected by the amount of sugar and starch in the endosperm. All of this is inseparable from the role of certain mutants. Most mutants can increase the soluble sugar content in the endosperm and reduce the starch content. The effect of a single sugar-containing mutant gene can increase the water-soluble polysaccharide content while reducing the starch content. This one special mutant alone has economic importance.

2. What are the differences between fruit corn and sweet corn?

Fruit corn is a kind of super-sweet corn suitable for eating raw. At the green ear stage it has thin skin, plenty of juice, a crisp texture and sweetness, and can be eaten directly raw; whether eaten raw or cooked it is especially sweet and crisp, just like fruit, which is why it is called “fruit corn”. Fruit corn has many varieties, all with very high nutritional value.

Sweet corn is one of the main vegetables in developed countries such as Europe and the United States, South Korea and Japan. Because of its rich nutrition and its sweet, fresh, crisp and tender characteristics, it is deeply favored by consumers of all classes.

Sweet corn in production can be divided into three categories: ordinary corn, super-sweet corn and enhanced sweet corn. Super-sweet corn is widely planted because of its high sugar content and long suitable harvest period. China is the world's center of origin for waxy corn, with a long history of cultivation. Waxy corn is rich in nutrition and has high edible value, and is widely used in today's world as a nutritious health food.

Sweet corn is also cultivated in China. The plant is relatively short, with strong tillering ability. The ear husk has flag leaves. The kernels are light yellow or white, the embryo is relatively large, and at the milk-ripe stage the kernels are tender and rich in water-soluble polysaccharides, vitamin A, vitamin C, fat and protein, etc.

3. Fruit corn varieties

By sugar content, fruit corn is divided into ordinary-type fruit corn, super-sweet-type fruit corn and enhanced-sweet fruit corn. Super-sweet corn is a variety that can be eaten directly raw. By color it is divided into four types: yellow, white, bicolor (alternating yellow and white), and pure white.

4. What cultivation technique characteristics does fruit corn have?

Sowing in stages: to prevent cross-pollination from lowering quality, fruit corn should be planted in isolation from other types of corn. Fruit corn has a short harvest period and is difficult to keep fresh, so sowing in stages can achieve harvesting and marketing in batches. Generally, sowing can be done from late March to early August, and with heat-preservation facilities in early spring it can be appropriately advanced, but sowing should be avoided between late May and mid-June. Corn sown in this period has its flowering and pollination period falling right in the July-August summer drought weather, which easily causes bare tips, missing kernels or empty stalks.

Sprouting before sowing: it is advisable to choose sandy loam field plots with a relatively high fertility level and sufficient fertilizer and water for cultivating fruit corn, and the land should be finely prepared before sowing. Whether direct sowing or raising seedlings for transplanting, it is best to carry out sprouting before sowing.

Scientific fertilization: fruit corn has flat leaves and a loose plant type, and the planting density should preferably be 3500-4000 plants per mu. In fertilization, base fertilizer should be applied appropriately, seedling fertilizer applied early, ear fertilizer applied heavily, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applied in combination, and increased application of organic fertilizer is advocated.

Careful management: fruit corn grows weakly at the seedling stage and is prone to insect pests in the later stage, so field management work should be done in a timely manner. After emergence, check seedlings and fill gaps promptly, and control weeds; in the middle and later stages, control pests such as the corn borer well. The harvest period of fruit corn is about 3 days earlier than that of ordinary sweet corn. About 20 days after pollination, the best harvest period can be grasped in time according to the color of the silk and field tasting.

5. Nutritional value of fruit corn

1. Fruit corn has a high linoleic acid content

Fruit corn contains linoleic acid, which after entering the human body can reduce the deposition of cholesterol in human blood vessels and can effectively prevent the occurrence of many diseases such as high blood pressure and myocardial infarction. In addition, regularly eating fruit corn can also prevent diabetes and reduce the occurrence of diabetic complications.

2. Fruit corn can delay aging

Fruit corn contains a large amount of vitamin E, a natural antioxidant component that can inhibit pigment deposition and also prevent the formation of wrinkles. It can delay the occurrence of various aging symptoms in the human body. Regularly eating fruit corn can maintain youth and prolong life.

3. Fruit corn contains multiple amino acids

Fruit corn contains multiple amino acids, especially glutamic acid, whose content is relatively outstanding. It can provide sufficient oxygen to brain cells and also helps the discharge of ammonia in the human brain. After people eat fruit corn, it can play an important role in strengthening the brain and improving memory.

4. Fruit corn can moisten the intestines and relieve constipation

Fruit corn contains a large amount of dietary fiber, which can speed up intestinal peristalsis, reduce the accumulation of toxic substances in the human intestines, and also accelerate the formation and discharge of stool. It has a good relieving effect on constipation and hemorrhoids in humans.

6. How to eat fruit corn?

1. Fruit corn can be eaten boiled

Fruit corn can be eaten boiled. After buying fruit corn, remove the outer old leaves, leave two layers of tender leaves near the corn, then put it directly into a pot, add clean water and boil it. After the pot comes to a boil, continue boiling for twenty minutes and it will be done. After it cools, take the fruit corn out of the pot, remove the outer leaves and eat it directly.

2. Fruit corn can be juiced and drunk

Fruit corn juice is also very tasty, but before juicing, the purchased fruit corn needs to be boiled in a pot first. After boiling, remove the corn kernels, put them into a blender, add an appropriate amount of milk, let the blender run to make corn juice, filter it after juicing, then pour it into a cup and drink it directly.

3. Fruit corn can be made into soup

Fruit corn soup is also very tasty. When making it, remove the corn kernels from the fruit corn, wash them with clean water, then dice the ham, and wash the peas with clean water as well. Put clean water in a pot, first add the diced ham and bring to a boil, then add the corn kernels and peas and cook until done, finally add salt and chicken essence and other seasonings, then drizzle in an appropriate amount of egg liquid, and after the egg liquid sets into egg flakes it can be taken out of the pot and eaten.