All articles tagged with #maize
Maize plants in crowded fields release a volatile gas called linalool that triggers defensive responses in neighboring plants, enhancing pest resistance but reducing growth; this natural mechanism could be harnessed to develop more resilient crops and reduce pesticide use.
A study by Brazilian scientists suggests that the domestication of maize may have been completed in South America, based on ancient maize samples found in Peruaçu Valley, Brazil. These samples, which are the farthest from maize's origin in Mexico, show traits of semi-domestication and are dated between 1,010 and 500 years ago. The research highlights the role of Indigenous communities in the development of maize varieties and has implications for genetic resource conservation and property rights.