maize

Early origins of maize in Mexico

harminka — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:26:52 -0500

The ancestors of maize originally grew wild in Mexico and were radically different from the plant that is now one of the most important crops in the world. While the evidence is clear that maize was first domesticated in Mexico, the time and location of the earliest domestication and dispersal events are still in dispute.

Ancient Mexican maize varieties

harminka — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:12:27 -0500

Maize was first domesticated in the highlands of Mexico about 10,000 years ago and is now one of the most important crop plants in the world. It is a member of the grass family, which also hosts the world's other major crops including rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, and sugar cane. As early agriculturalists selected plants with desirable traits, they were also selecting genes important for transforming a wild grass into a food plant.

Economical way to boost vitamin A content of maize

harminka — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:24:06 -0600

A team of plant geneticists and crop scientists has pioneered an economical approach to the selective breeding of maize that can boost levels of provitamin A, the precursors that are converted to vitamin A upon consumption. This innovation could help to enhance the nutritional status of millions of people in the developing world.

If corn is biofuels king, tropical maize may be emperor

harminka — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:00:47 -0500

When University of Illinois crop scientist Fred Below began growing tropical maize, the form of corn grown in the tropics, he was looking for novel genes for the utilization of nitrogen fertilizer and was hoping to discover information that could be useful to American corn producers.

Simulating kernel production influences maize model accuracy

harminka — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:57:27 -0500

Recently, researchers at Iowa State University discovered a way to increase the accuracy of a popular crop model. By zeroing in on early stages leading up to kernel formation, scientists believe they can help improve yield predictions across a variety of environmental conditions. The team of scientists reported their findings in the September-October issue of Crop Science.

Transgenic maize is more susceptible to aphids

harminka — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:12:28 -0500

The environmental consequences of transgenic crops are the focus of numerous investigations, such as the one published in the journal PloS ONE, which was carried out by Cristina Faria and her colleagues, under the supervision of Ted Turlings, professor in chemical ecology at the University of Neuchвtel.

First all-African GM crop is resistant to maize streak virus

harminka — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:20:10 -0500

The first all-African genetically modified crop plant with resistance to the severe maize streak virus (MSV), which seriously reduces the continent’s maize yield, has been developed by scientists from the University of Cape Town and PANNAR PTY Ltd, a South African seed company.

Genetically engineered maize is resistant to maize streak virus

harminka — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:03:14 -0500

Maize streak viruses (MSV), geminiviruses that can destroy most of a maize crop, are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent Indian Ocean islands where they are transmitted by leafhoppers in the genus Cicadulina. Maize can supply 50% of the caloric intake in sub-Saharan Africa but, in certain years, a farmer’s entire crop can be wiped out.