Physiology of Maize

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) or corn, as it is known in North America, is one of the three major cereal crops in the world. Although little consensus exists as to the origin and early evolution of maize, there is general agreement that maize was first domesticated 7000 to 10 000 years ago in southern Mexico. After domestication, maize spread fairly quickly through North and South America, reaching the northeastern US and southern Canada prior to European colonization. Maize spread rapidly throughout Europe and, from Europe, to other parts of the world after the European discovery of the Americas.