MAIZE

Maize, also called corn, is a domesticated cereal plant of the grass family (Poaceae) that originates in the Americas and is one of the most widely consumed food crops in the world. The domestication of the crop took place about some 10,000 years ago in Mexico. It was then spread into Europe and other parts of the world where its cultivation is suitable largely through explorers like Christopher Columbus.

The maize plant is a tall annual grass with a stout, erect, solid stem and narrow leaves which are spaced interchangeably on opposite sides of the stem. Staminate (male) flowers are borne on the tassel terminating the main axis of the stem. The pistillate (female) inflorescences, which mature to become the edible ears, are spikes with a thickened axis, bearing paired spikelets in longitudinal rows; each row of paired spikelets normally produces two rows of grain. Although there are varieties of corn pink, and black kernels white maize are the most popularly consumed. Each ear is enclosed by modified leaves called shucks or husks.

In recent times, maize grown for industrial purposes are genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate or to produce proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to kill specific insect pests. In addition, some strains have been genetically engineered for greater drought tolerance, Maize always has an even number of rows on each ear. This happens because maize spikelets are borne in pairs, and each spikelet produces two florets: one fertile and one sterile.

As stated earlier, maize is one of the world’s most consumed food crops. It is Africa’s most important staple food, with several recipes, ranging from solid food to drinks and snacks. Maize is also used as a substitute for wheat flour, to make cornbread and other baked products.

Starch from maize can also be made into plastics, fabrics, adhesives, and many other chemical products. The corn steep liquor, a plentiful watery byproduct of the maize wet milling process, is widely used in the biochemical industry and research as a culture medium to grow many kinds of microorganisms.

Maize increasingly used as a feedstock for the production of ethanol fuel. When ethanol is mixed with gasoline, it decreases the amount of pollutants emitted by motor vehicles. In 2007, High fuel prices led to higher demand for ethanol, which in turn led to higher prices paid to farmers for maize. This led to the harvest of that year being one of the most profitable in modern history for maize farmers. Because of the relationship between fuel and maize, prices paid for the now tend to track the price of oil.