The chemical composition and texture of the grains of sweet corn are directly related to the classes of endosperm that interfere in the product acceptance by the consumers. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the sensory characteristics of hybrids of sweet and green corn according to harvest intervals. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Research Station of Syngenta Seeds Ltda, in the city of Uberlândia, State of MG. The experimental design was a randomized block in an 8 x 4 factorial design, corresponding to eight hybrids (six hybrids of sweet corn: SWC03, SWC04, SWC05, SWC06, SWC07 and SWC08, and two hybrids of green corn: SWC01 and SWC02) and four harvest intervals (26, 28, 30 and 32 days after harvest- DAH), with three replications. In the study, which involved 41 people (25 women and 16 men), using the acceptance test with hedonic scale, it was concluded that hybrids of sweet corn have greater acceptance than hybrid of green corn, regardless of harvest interval. A late harvest (32 DAF) reflects in a reduction in the acceptability of sweet corn, which resembles to the acceptance of green corn (between indifferent and slightly liked it for color and, slightly disliked it and moderately liked it for texture and flavor). In all the tested hybrids, when the harvest was performed between 26 and 28 DAH, products with better sensory results (texture, flavor and color) were provided.
grain composition; industrial quality; Zea mays subsp. saccharata
