Maize roots secrete certain chemicals that affect the quality of soil. In some fields, this effect increases yields of wheat planted subsequent to maize in the same soil by more than 4%. While the ...

An important gene in maize called HPC1 modulates certain chemical processes that contribute to flowering time, and has its origins in 'teosinte mexicana,' a precursor to modern-day corn that grows ...

In just about every corner of the globe, maize is an essential crop. Americans, who call it corn, dedicate more than 90 million acres to it — roughly the same size as the entire state of Montana. But ...

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 ...

In order for plants to grow, they absorb water and nutrients through their roots. In doing so, they rely on tiny helpers: bacteria and fungi in particular are found in a thin layer around the roots.

Plants do not rely only on their leaves to feed on carbon dioxide. A new study in Carbon Research reveals that maize roots can act as an active “second mouth” for carbon, taking up CO2 from the soil ...

Farmers have long known that it's a good idea to rotate crops, and that concept is now getting a new spin. A Swiss study indicates that wheat yields are boosted when those crops are planted in fields ...

When a maize plant is attacked by the fungus Ustilago maydis, tumor-like tissue growths occur at the site of infection. How the pathogen causes this response in its host has long been unknown. But a ...

The key driver to the Kenyan economy is agricultural sector that has long enough been crippled by several factors including capital and poor agronomic practices. Today, I will take you through a major ...

Farmers rely on crop yields for economic returns, but soil or water contamination with heavy metals like arsenic threatens crop production and human health. However, some plants exhibit tolerance to ...