Maize

Maize /meɪz/ (Zea mays), also known as corn in <a href="/facts/North_American_English/vX9W1Xz1">North American English</a>, is a tall stout <a href="/facts/Poaceae/q2CRK8q0">grass</a> that produces <a href="/facts/Cereal_grain/ao2WcFdM">cereal grain</a>. It was domesticated by <a href="/facts/Indigenous_peoples_of_Mexico/ChgUdWdQ">indigenous peoples in southern Mexico</a> about 9,000 years ago from wild <a href="/facts/Teosinte/g2NwEeWr">teosinte</a>. Native Americans planted it alongside <a href="/facts/Bean/LPqkC1qW">beans</a> and <a href="/facts/Cucurbita/obYd9RFa">squashes</a> in the <a href="/facts/Three_Sisters_(agriculture)/Rboj4Ybk">Three Sisters</a> <a href="/facts/Polyculture/WXrglcI9">polyculture</a>. The leafy <a href="/facts/Plant_stem/QlQWSzV4">stalk</a> of the plant gives rise to male <a href="/facts/Inflorescence/CvpNd4vS">inflorescences</a> or tassels which produce <a href="/facts/Pollen/eqRP052I">pollen</a>, and female inflorescences called <a href="/facts/Ear_(botany)/W8Maw6Bg">ears</a>. The ears yield grain, known as <a href="/facts/Corn_kernels/XmMYrRfP">kernels</a> or seeds. In modern commercial varieties, these are usually yellow or white; other varieties can be of many colors.
Maize relies on humans for its propagation. Since the <a href="/facts/Columbian_exchange/xaYrED8p">Columbian exchange</a>, it has become a <a href="/facts/Staple_food/GNo3putV">staple food</a> in many parts of the world, with the <a href="/facts/List_of_most_valuable_crops_and_livestock_products/2qDjl2mz">total production of maize surpassing</a> that of <a href="/facts/Wheat/lrk6HdV3">wheat</a> and <a href="/facts/Rice/wvL1hBCz">rice</a>. Much maize is used for <a href="/facts/Animal_feed/3pYmdSFB">animal feed</a>, whether as grain or as the whole plant, which can either be baled or made into the more palatable <a href="/facts/Silage/t9pgturS">silage</a>. Sugar-rich varieties called <a href="/facts/Sweet_corn/1CLCdRHD">sweet corn</a> are grown for human consumption, while <a href="/facts/Field_corn/KpT8QbLl">field corn</a> varieties are used for animal feed, for uses such as <a href="/facts/Cornmeal/gQYmKtf9">cornmeal</a> or <a href="/facts/Masa/8WwdaGm7">masa</a>, <a href="/facts/Corn_starch/ASblJB4P">corn starch</a>, <a href="/facts/Corn_syrup/P8CBE89H">corn syrup</a>, pressing into <a href="/facts/Corn_oil/eebVEq2J">corn oil</a>, alcoholic beverages like <a href="/facts/Bourbon_whiskey/KyDJH6Ht">bourbon whiskey</a>, and as chemical feedstocks including <a href="/facts/Corn_ethanol/5vqUCkF8">ethanol</a> and other <a href="/facts/Biofuel/RWu7b6Y3">biofuels</a>.
Maize is cultivated throughout the world; a greater weight of maize is produced each year than any other grain. In 2020, world production was 1.1 billion tonnes. It is afflicted by many <a href="/facts/Pest_(organism)/mXGHJ8s7">pests</a> and <a href="/facts/List_of_maize_diseases/64YTYaC2">diseases</a>; two major <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insect</a> pests, <a href="/facts/European_corn_borer/22qpspoB">European corn borer</a> and <a href="/facts/Diabrotica/4NCSQwKd">corn rootworms</a>, have each caused annual losses of a billion dollars in the US. Modern <a href="/facts/Plant_breeding/GFlyFbSK">plant breeding</a> has greatly increased output and qualities such as nutrition, drought tolerance, and tolerance of pests and diseases. Much maize is now <a href="/facts/Genetically_modified/vwdlDR61">genetically modified</a>.
As a food, maize is used to make a wide variety of dishes including Mexican <a href="/facts/Tortilla/eGnsY9v4">tortillas</a> and <a href="/facts/Tamale/QeU401to">tamales</a>, Italian <a href="/facts/Polenta/78dY9C1r">polenta</a>, and American <a href="/facts/Hominy/TII5Mt1f">hominy</a> <a href="/facts/Grits/XaD5SGYn">grits</a>. Maize <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">protein</a> is low in some <a href="/facts/Essential_amino_acid/Re9Rxb9I">essential amino acids</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Niacin_(nutrient)/sgjmUWzx">niacin</a> it contains only becomes available if <a href="/facts/Nixtamalization/0LSETjgR">freed by alkali treatment</a>. In Mesoamerica, maize is deified as <a href="/facts/Maya_maize_god/Cbo2Rfvw">a maize god</a> and depicted in sculptures.

Maize open-in-new

Maize