MaizeMaize

ByBy Gesica Visovan Gesica Visovan

Ioana PolgarIoana Polgar

MaizeMaize ( (Zea maysZea mays L. ssp. . ssp. maysmays, pronounced , pronounced /ˈmeɪz/) ) from Spanish from Spanish maizmaiz after after Taino mahiz,mahiz, known in many known in many English-speaking countries as -speaking countries as corncorn, is a , is a grain domesticated by domesticated by indigenous peoples in in Mesoamerica in in prehistoric times. Its main classification is vegetable, yet prehistoric times. Its main classification is vegetable, yet it is technically a fruit. it is technically a fruit.

Maize is the most widely grown Maize is the most widely grown crop in the Americas in the Americas with 332 million with 332 million metric tons grown annually in the grown annually in the United States alone (although 40% of the crop - 130 alone (although 40% of the crop - 130 million tons - is used for corn ethanol) million tons - is used for corn ethanol) Transgenic maize made up 85% of the maize planted in the United States made up 85% of the maize planted in the United States in 2009.While some maize varieties grow to 12 metres in 2009.While some maize varieties grow to 12 metres (39 ft) tall, most commercially grown maize has been (39 ft) tall, most commercially grown maize has been bred for a standardized height of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft). bred for a standardized height of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft).

The kernel of maize has a The kernel of maize has a pericarp of the fruit fused with of the fruit fused with the seed coat, typical of the the seed coat, typical of the grasses, and the entire , and the entire kernel is often referred to as the kernel is often referred to as the seedseed. The cob is close . The cob is close to a to a multiple fruit in structure, except that the individual in structure, except that the individual fruits (the kernels) never fuse into a single mass. The fruits (the kernels) never fuse into a single mass. The grains are about the size of grains are about the size of peas, and adhere in regular , and adhere in regular rows round a white pithy substance, which forms the ear. rows round a white pithy substance, which forms the ear. An ear contains from 200 to 400 kernels, and is from 10–An ear contains from 200 to 400 kernels, and is from 10–25 cm (4–10 in) in length. They are of various colors: 25 cm (4–10 in) in length. They are of various colors: blackish, blackish, bluish-gray, purple, green, red, white and , purple, green, red, white and yellow. When ground into yellow. When ground into flour, maize yields more flour, , maize yields more flour, with much less with much less bran, than wheat does , than wheat does

However, it lacks the protein However, it lacks the protein gluten of wheat and, of wheat and, therefore, makes baked goods with poor rising capability.therefore, makes baked goods with poor rising capability.

A A genetic variant that accumulates more sugar and less variant that accumulates more sugar and less starch in the ear is consumed as a in the ear is consumed as a vegetable and is and is called called sweet corn..

Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world, and a Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world, and a greater weight of maize is produced each year than any greater weight of maize is produced each year than any other grain. The United States produces 40% of the other grain. The United States produces 40% of the world's harvest; other top producing countries include world's harvest; other top producing countries include China, , Brazil, , Mexico, , Indonesia, , India, , France and and Argentina. Worldwide production was 817 million . Worldwide production was 817 million tonnes in 2009—more than in 2009—more than rice (678 million (678 million tonnes) or ) or wheat (682 million (682 million tonnes).In 2009, over 159 million ).In 2009, over 159 million hectares of of maize were planted worldwide, with a yield of over 5 maize were planted worldwide, with a yield of over 5 tonnes/tonnes/hectare. Production can be significantly higher in . Production can be significantly higher in certain regions of the world; 2009 forecasts for certain regions of the world; 2009 forecasts for production in Iowa were 11614 kg/ha. "There is production in Iowa were 11614 kg/ha. "There is conflicting evidence to support the hypothesis that maize conflicting evidence to support the hypothesis that maize yield potential has increased" over the past few decades.yield potential has increased" over the past few decades.

Maize and Maize and cornmeal (ground dried maize) (ground dried maize) constitute a constitute a staple food in many regions of the in many regions of the world. Introduced into world. Introduced into Africa by the Portuguese by the Portuguese in the 16th century, maize has become Africa's in the 16th century, maize has become Africa's most important staple food crop. Maize meal is most important staple food crop. Maize meal is made into a thick made into a thick porridge in many cultures: in many cultures: from the from the polenta of of Italy, the angu of , the angu of Brazil, the , the mămăligă of of Romania, to , to mush in the U.S. in the U.S. (called (called grits in the South) or the food called in the South) or the food called mealie pap in South Africa and in South Africa and sadza, , nshima and and ugali in other parts of Africa. Maize meal is in other parts of Africa. Maize meal is also used as a replacement for also used as a replacement for wheat flour, to flour, to make make cornbread and other baked products. and other baked products. Masa (cornmeal treated with (cornmeal treated with lime water) is the ) is the main ingredient for main ingredient for tortillas, , atole and many and many other dishes of other dishes of Mexican food..

Maize can also be prepared as Maize can also be prepared as hominy, in which the , in which the kernels are soaked with kernels are soaked with lye in a process called in a process called nixtamalization; or ; or grits, which are coarsely ground , which are coarsely ground hominy. These are commonly eaten in the hominy. These are commonly eaten in the Southeastern United States, foods handed down from , foods handed down from Native Americans, who called the dish , who called the dish sagamite..

Maize is a major source of Maize is a major source of starch. . Cornstarch (maize (maize flour) is a major ingredient in home cooking and in many flour) is a major ingredient in home cooking and in many industrialized food products. Maize is also a major industrialized food products. Maize is also a major source of source of cooking oil ( (corn oil) and of maize gluten. ) and of maize gluten. Maize starch can be Maize starch can be hydrolyzed and enzymatically and enzymatically treated to produce syrups, particularly high fructose treated to produce syrups, particularly high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener; and also fermented and , a sweetener; and also fermented and distilled to produce distilled to produce grain alcoho

Starch from maize can also be made into Starch from maize can also be made into plastics, , fabrics, , adhesives, and many other chemical products., and many other chemical products.

Stigmas from female maize flowers, known popularly as , Stigmas from female maize flowers, known popularly as , are sold as are sold as herbal supplements..

The The corn steep liquor, a plentiful watery byproduct of , a plentiful watery byproduct of maize maize wet milling process, is widely used in the process, is widely used in the biochemical industry and research as a culture medium and research as a culture medium to grow many kinds of to grow many kinds of microorganisms..

Some forms of the plant are occasionally grown for Some forms of the plant are occasionally grown for ornamental use in the garden. For this purpose, ornamental use in the garden. For this purpose, variegated and colored leaf forms as well as those with variegated and colored leaf forms as well as those with colorful ears are used. Size-superlative types, having colorful ears are used. Size-superlative types, having reached 34 ft (10 m) tall, cobs 2 ft (61 cm) long, or 1 in reached 34 ft (10 m) tall, cobs 2 ft (61 cm) long, or 1 in (2.5 cm) kernels, have been popular for at least a (2.5 cm) kernels, have been popular for at least a century. Corncobs can be hollowed out and treated to century. Corncobs can be hollowed out and treated to make inexpensive make inexpensive smoking pipes, first manufactured in , first manufactured in the United States in 1869.the United States in 1869.

Maize contains Maize contains lipid transfer protein, an indigestible , an indigestible protein that survives cooking. This protein has been protein that survives cooking. This protein has been linked to a rare and understudied linked to a rare and understudied allergy to maize in to maize in humans. The allergic reaction can cause skin rash, humans. The allergic reaction can cause skin rash, swelling or itching of mucous membranes, diarrhea, swelling or itching of mucous membranes, diarrhea, vomiting, asthma and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis. It is vomiting, asthma and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis. It is unclear how common this allergy is in the general unclear how common this allergy is in the general population.population.

Maize makes a greater quantity of epigeous mass than Maize makes a greater quantity of epigeous mass than other cereal plants, so can be used for fodder. other cereal plants, so can be used for fodder. Digestibility and palatability are higher when ensiled and Digestibility and palatability are higher when ensiled and fermented, rather than dried.fermented, rather than dried.

The breakdown of usage of the 12.1 billion bushel 2008 The breakdown of usage of the 12.1 billion bushel 2008 U.S. maize crop was as follows, according to the World U.S. maize crop was as follows, according to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report by Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report by the USDA.the USDA.