Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- Acronyms
- Chapter 1 Cassava
- Chapter 2 The Potato
- Chapter 3 Sweetpotato
- Chapter 4 Other Andean Roots and Tubers
- Chapter 5 Yams
- Chapter 6 Banana and Plantain
- Chapter 7 Cowpea
- Chapter 8 Chickpea
- Chapter 9 Groundnut
- Chapter 10 Lentil
- Chapter 11 Phaseolus Beans
- Chapter 12 Pigeonpea
- Chapter 13 Faba Bean
- Chapter 14 Soyabean
- Chapter 15 Barley
- Chapter 16 Maize, Tripsacum and Teosinte
- Chapter 17 Pearl Millet
- Chapter 18 Small Millets
- Chapter 19 Rice
- Chapter 20 Sorghum
- Chapter 21 Wheat
- Chapter 22 Forages
- Index
Chapter 16 - Maize, Tripsacum and Teosinte
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- Acronyms
- Chapter 1 Cassava
- Chapter 2 The Potato
- Chapter 3 Sweetpotato
- Chapter 4 Other Andean Roots and Tubers
- Chapter 5 Yams
- Chapter 6 Banana and Plantain
- Chapter 7 Cowpea
- Chapter 8 Chickpea
- Chapter 9 Groundnut
- Chapter 10 Lentil
- Chapter 11 Phaseolus Beans
- Chapter 12 Pigeonpea
- Chapter 13 Faba Bean
- Chapter 14 Soyabean
- Chapter 15 Barley
- Chapter 16 Maize, Tripsacum and Teosinte
- Chapter 17 Pearl Millet
- Chapter 18 Small Millets
- Chapter 19 Rice
- Chapter 20 Sorghum
- Chapter 21 Wheat
- Chapter 22 Forages
- Index
Summary
World maize production in 1992–94 oscillated between 470 and 569 million t produced on about 127–132 million ha. The average yields were in the range of 3.7–4.3 t/ha, which are the highest among the most important world cereal food crops: wheat, rice and maize (FAO 1995). Its production, however, is not evenly distributed. More than 40% of world maize production comes from the United States. Maize is widely adapted between 55°N and S latitudes (Guidry 1964) and at altitudes from sea level to 3600 m in cool tropical highlands of the Andes. Adapted maize germplasm is cultivated in tropical lowlands, tropical and subtropical mid-altitudes, temperate and cool tropical highland climates.
Hybrid maize was first introduced in the United States before World War II and further development of single-cross hybrids from the 1960s in most temperate maize-growing countries has been a significant factor in increasing maize production (Hallauer et al. 1988). Hybrid maize technology is being employed for the other maize types grown in tropical, mid-altitude and highland maize production regions where, however, an important part of maize production is the use of landraces (traditional local maize varieties) and improved varieties for food preparations of preferred grain texture and colour.
BOTANY AND DISTRIBUTION
Cultivated maize is Zea mays L. (Species Plantarum 971. 1753) or Zea mays L. subsp. mays Iltis (Iltis and Doebley 1980), and two of its relatives, Tripsacum and Teosinte, are described later in this volume.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Biodiversity in TrustConservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources in CGIAR Centres, pp. 213 - 242Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997
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