Thailand successfully develops violet-red sweet corn

BANGKOK, June 9 (TNA) - Thailand is now the best in Asia at developing sweet corn varieties and is the first and only country that has successfully developed violet-red sweet corn. A veteran corn developer, Thaweesak Phulam, has achieved the sweet corn variety development on a plantation covering about 50 rai or 80,000 square meters in Phra Phutthabat district of Thailand's central Saraburi province. The Thai expert, who has developed corn varieties for over three decades, is well-known to international seed manufacturers, as they have cashed in on producing seeds of varieties supplied from his plantation, where over 2,000 corn varieties have been created. Violet vegetables and fruits have gaining their popularity, as they contain anthocyanin which can prevent cancer and slow down blood clots and aging. Dr. Thaweesak has, thus, developed the sweet corn variety, named Siam Ruby Queen, which will be publicly launched next year. Eight corn varieties from Dr. Thaweesak have already reached Thai farmers, including the varieties of field corn, sweet corn, baby corn and waxy corn. Dr. Thaweesak is further improving sweet corn varieties to meet overseas buyers’ demands and he plans to increase their sugar content from 25 per cent to 40 per cent, which should enable Thai farmers and industrialists in this field to raise their incomes from rising corn exports. (TNA)