Maize has a significantly higher productivity rate compared with many other crops. The particular leaf anatomy and special form of photosynthesis (referred to as 'C4') developed during its evolution ...

Plant stem cells are crucial for the world's food supply, animal feed, and fuel production. They lay the foundation for how plants grow. Yet, much about these mysterious building blocks remains ...

Maize plants release secondary metabolites into the soil that bind to iron and thereby facilitate its uptake by the plant. The Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera), the economically most ...

Plant-infecting viruses cause significant losses to agriculture, including to staple crops such as wheat, maize, and rice. Preventing and managing endemic and emerging plant diseases is an ongoing ...

In 1716, Cotton Mather described maize which Americans call corn and pumpkins which are also known as squash as hybrid plants. On longer evolutionary time scales, hybridisation can lead to local ...

Following the first rains, farmers are busy in their gardens either planting or finalising land preparation. Ideally, this ...

Maize is a staple crop and a cornerstone of livelihoods. Therefore, understanding the rhythm of the seasons is paramount. The difference between a bountiful harvest and a devastating loss often comes ...

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are members of a large enzyme family that catalyze oxygenation of free polyunsaturated fatty acids into diverse hydroperoxide compounds, collectively called oxylipins. Although ...