This study was carried out to investigate the effects of seeding dates and cultivated period on the growth characteristics, dry matter yield and feed value of Teosinte new variety “Geukdong 6”〔Zea mays L. subsp. mexicana (Schrad.) H. H. Iltis〕for feed. The experimental design was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of five time seeding dates, 10 May(T1), 25 May(T2), 10 June(T3), 25 June(T4) and 10 July(T5), and same time harvesting, 22 October. Therefore, growing period were 164 days(T1), 149 days(T2), 134 days(T3), 119 days(T4) and 103 days(T5), respectively. In growth stage at harvest time, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 were early flowering, end heading, middle heading, early heading and early heading stage, respectively. Plant length and dead leaf were highest in T1, but leaf width and number of leaf were highest in T2 than others (p<0.05). Leaf length, stem diameter and number of tiller were not significantly different among the treatments (p<0.05). Stem hardness was higher in order of T1(2.0)> T2(1.9) > T3=T4(1.7) > T5(1.2kg/cm2). Fresh yield and dry matter yield showed significantly higher as the sowing time was faster and the cultivation period was longer (T1 > T2 > T3 > T4 > T5, p<0.05). Crude protein, crude fat and TDN content were highest in T5, but ADF and NDF content were highest in T1 than others (p<0.05). T1, T2 and T3 showed significantly higher crude protein yield compared to T4 and T5 (p<0.05). Total digestible nutrients yield were higher in order of T1 > T2 > T3 > T4 > T5 (p<0.05), and relative feed value were higher in order of T5 > T4 > T3 > T2 > T1 (p<0.05). Based on the above results, seeding dates could be recommended from the early May to the late May, and it is efficient that the cultivation period is over 150 days for dry matter yield, crude protein yield and total digestible nutrients yield.

Teosinte, commonly known as wild species of corn, has distributed in Central and South America. It is believed that teosinte contains genes for resistance to flooding because of the climate characteristics of the collected countries. Recent studies have shown that teosinte has the ability to form adventitious roots, to develop aerenchyma tissues of teosinte, and the resistance to toxic substances under flooding soil condition. Therefore, development of corn varieties to cope with climate change and the growing corn at paddy field in Korea are required to introduce the characteristics of teosinte. However, in order to utilize teosinte resources, preconditions must be settled such as photoperiodic responsibility, physiological and ecological characteristics. Also if the preconditions are studied together with the metabolic level studies, the possibility of utilization for flooding resistant varieties will be even higher.