MAIZE / CORN

DOMESTICATED OF THE MAIZE

Maize was domesticated from its wild grass ancestor more than 8,700 years ago in Central America.

The wild grass called teosinte.

DOMESTICATION

- process which plant genetically modified over time by humans for traits that are more advantageous or disirable for human- Teosinte is the ancestor of maize- Had bigger kernels and more rows of kernels- Over the time they select other useful traits and

lastly a new type was form known as maize- The effect of this situation plant cannot survive

in wild without human

-Teosinte is a short and a bushy plants-This difference because of the difference

of the two genes

- The corn most planted in several region in Malaysia :

-Johor-Selangor-Pahang-Also used as the vegetable known as

baby corn

HISTORY

- In western civilization, the story of corn began in 1492 when Columbus's men discovered this new grain in Cuba

- Exported to Europe - Corn in the United States is also called

maize or Indian corn- Corn in England means wheat; in

Scotland and Ireland, it refers to oats

WORLD PRODUCTION

-http://www.nue.okstate.edu/Crop_Information/World_Wheat_Production.htm

Country Maize area, ha Maize production, Mt Yield, Mt/ha

WORLD 159,531,007 817,110,509 5.12

USA 32,209,277 333,010,910 10.34

China 30,478,998 163,118,097 5.35

Brazil 13,791,219 51,232,447 3.71

India 8,400,000 17,300,000 2.06

Mexico 7,200,000 20,202,600 2.81

Argentina 2,337,175 13,121,380 5.61

- http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2415/2

USES

- Human food- Alternative medicine- Chemicals- Bio-fuel- Ornamental and other uses- Fodder- Commodity

PRODUCT BASED ON MAIZE

GROWTH FACTOR AND LAND PREPARATION

OUTLINE

Growth Factor

•Climate requirements •Soil requirements•Planting depth and plant technique

Land Preparatio

n

•Weeds removing •Soil tillage•Fertilisation of land

GROWTH FACTOR

CLIMATE REQUIRE

- Maize crops is strongly affected by climate such as :- Temperature- Water / Moisture

TEMPERATURE

- Maize is a warm weather crops of 19˚C to 23˚C.

- The critical temperature affecting yield is approximately 32˚C.

- Low temperature will cause frost at all stages of maize.

- Frost free period is require to prevent damage between 120-140 days.

FROST INJURY

WATER / MOISTURE

- Approximately 10-16kg of grain are produce per millimetre of water use.

- At maturity, each plant will used 250l of water in absence of moisture stress.

- The yield loss due to water stress will depend on the growth stage of corn during the drought stress as well as the length and severity of the drought.

- Corn is most sensitive to water stress during pollination, followed by grain-filling, and vegetative growth stages.

- Water stress during vegetative growth stages results in reduced plant height and leaf area, and lower yield potential.

- Moisture stress during pollination is the most critical for reducing yield potential of corn.

WATER STRESS DROUGHT STRESS

SOIL REQUIREMENT - Most suitable soil for maize is

Good effective

depthOptimal moisture regime

Good internal drainage

Sufficient and balance plant nutrient

Favourable chemical

properties

Favourable morphological properties

- Maize production take place on soils with a clay content of less than 10% sandy soils or in excess 30% clay and clay-loam, texture classes between 10 and 30% have air and moisture regimes

Land preparation. Deep ploughing up to 45 cm is favourable for maize that have deep growth. Ridges can be made at 60cm apart for maize planting.

LAND PREPARATION

- The most critical period of weed competition is during the first four to six weeks after emergence of the crop.

- Weeds compete with the maize plant for water, nutrients, space and light

- Some weeds become alternative hosts of pests and diseases.

- Some weeds are parasitic and poisonous to maize

WEEDS REMOVING

EFFECTS OF WEEDS ON MAIZE

FERTILISATION OF LAND

- Base fertilizer expected yields and crop needs adjusted for residual available nutrients in the soil

- Manure is a common source of nutrients and is beneficial when applied to recently levelled land

- Yields can be expected increase 5% without influence by other factors such as frost, weeds and others

TYPES OF MANURE

SOIL TILLAGE

- Soil tillage in a farming system refers to the physical soil cultivation practices, changing the soil’s structure, hydraulic properties and stability.

- Most important processes affected by soil tillage include infiltration and evaporation of water.

- Germination and root growth- Erosion

- aims of soil tillage are weed control, incorporation of residue, reducing wind and water erosion, improving soil structure and prepare seedbed

PEST OF MAIZE

PEST 1. FLEA BEETLE (PHYLLOTRETA VITTULA)- small, shiny beetles with black legs

enlarged for jumping- Symptom: -leaving tiny pits or small holes at their

feeding sites-It can cover leaves with bleached,

pitted areas or ragged holes

- Controls:- Seedlings can be protected with protective

covering until they are in the sixth leaf stage.

- Remove debris in the fall to remove any overwintering beetles.

- applied reflective mulches- insecticides should not normally be

necessary and are not very effective when populations are high.

2. SEEDCORN MAGGOT (DELIA PLATURA MEIGEN)

- yellowish-white maggot found burrowing into corn seeds.

- Full grown maggots are legless, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long

- It is cylindrical, narrow and tapered and it also has heads and legs, but have small black mouth hooks in front.

- It burrow into the seed, often destroying the germ

- Symptoms:- It will damaged the seed because there are not

enough food reserves left in the seed for the plant to survive.

- attack the underground stems of sprouted corn and soybeans resulting in weakened seedlings that seldom survive. 

- Control:- seed treatment- Insecticides- Replanting- to remain healthy plant population, the date,

yield expectation.

3. STALK BORER (PAPAIPEMA NEBRIS )

Attack :•Base of plant and centre of the stalk

Symptoms :•Round to irregular shaped rows of holes• Wilting or dying of the upper leaves•Plants are often stunted or misshapen and may die.

CONTROL : -ANY WEED CONTROL METHOD THAT HELPS ELIMINATE GRASSES WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL STALK BORER EGG-LAYING SITES, REDUCING THE PROBABILITY OF STALK BORER DAMAGE THE NEXT YEAR

-BURNING THE DAMAGED AREAS BEFORE EGGS HATCH CAN REDUCE COMMON STALK BORER POPULATIONS

4. WIREWORMS (AGROITES MANCUS)

Larvae can damage corn seeds shortly after plantingAttack :- Fibrous root plant

Symptoms :- Shredding and discolouration plant but still

attached to the root- Small dark wounds on the stems

Control : - Apply granular insecticide- Bait balls- Soil insecticides approved for use to control corn rootworms

include: Aztec 2.1G, Force 1.5G and 3G, Fortress 2.5G and 5G, and Lorsban 15G.

- Usually, prevention of wireworm damage requires treatment before or at planting time.

5. OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (CORN BORER)

Also known as the European high-flyer- Attack: Damage the ears of corn, as

well as the stalks, by chewing tunnels, which cancause the plants to fall over.

- Symptom: In corn, European corn borers feed first on the leaves, then move to the tassels and pollen. Older larvae bore into the stalks and ears.

- Ways to control: - Clear the garden of all weed debris and plant stalks. - Destroy all corn stalks after harvest. - Attract beneficial insects, especially lacewings, lady

beetles, and predatory or parasitic wasps.

6. BILLBUG

- Attack: Adults gouge small holes in the stem to feed on the tender inner plant tissue.- Symptoms: - Adult billbugs chew holes in grass stems, usually just above the crown to create an egg-laying site. - Larvae begin to tunnel within the stem

upon hatching, then burrow into the crown.

- Older larvae will feed on the crown, and can kill plants.

- Ways to control: 1) Cultural Control - Use Resistant Turf Varieties 2) Biological Control - Predation by birds and

hunting wasp.- Insect parasite nematodes

(Steinernema sp) 3) Chemical Control - Insecticides

Zea mays subsp. mays

DISEASE OF MAIZE / CORN

SEED AND SEEDLING DISEASE

DISEASE NAME: SEED ROT

- Pathogen: Fungi and bacteria. Pythium, Fusarium, Diplodia, Rhizoctonia, Penicillium spp., various soilborne bacteria

- Symptoms: The seed rots (embryo is killed) before germination.

- Inoculum survival: Soil, infected plant residue (leaves, stems, roots), occasionally infected seed.

- Control : Fungicide seed treatment. Plant when soil conditions are warmer and drier, use the proper planting depth.

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LEAF DISEASE

DISEASE NAME: GRAY LEAF SPOT- Pathogen: Fungus. Cercospora

zeae-maydis- Symptoms: Initial lesions appear as

greenish black water soaked circular areas with chlorotic halos, expanding into oval and then the diagnostic parallel sided rectangular brownish gray lesions. 

- Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (leaves and leaf sheaths). 

- Control : Select hybrids with resistance (tolerance based on risk), two year crop rotation, cleanly plow under infected residue.

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DISEASE NAME: SOUTHERN CORN RUST

- Pathogen: Fungus. Puccinia polysora- Symptoms: Similar to common rust except

pustules occur almost exclusively on the upper leaf surface, rarely on lower. Pustules are more orange than brick-red and slower to break through epidermis of leaf than common rust pustules. 

- Inoculum Survival: Spores blown into the Midwest from the South. Does not survive winter in Indiana, except possibly in rare years along the Ohio River. 

- Control : Resistant hybrids. Foliar fungicides may be useful in seed production fields.

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STALK ROTS

DISEASE NAME: ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT- Pathogen: Fungus. Colletotrichum graminicola- Symptoms: Water-soaked areas on the surface

of the lower internodes, developing brownish linear streaks, turning black later in the season, larger oval black areas may develop, disintegrated gray to dark brown pith, severely infected stalks likely to lodge. 

- Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (leaves, leaf sheaths and stalks), infected seed (rare).

- Control  Resistant hybrids (full season hybrids tend to have more resistance than short season), two year crop rotation with non grass crops, cleanly plow under infected residue, balanced soil fertility.

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DISEASE NAME: DIPLODIA STALK ROT- Pathogen: Fungus. Diplodia maydis- Symptoms: Leaves turn grayish-

green and eventually brown. Dark brown lesions extend in either direction from the node. Pith is disintegrated and discolored, stalks break easily. Tiny black bumps (pycnidia) may form just beneath the epidermis on lower internodes.

- Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (seed, cobs, ear shanks, stalks),seed, soil. 

- Control : Resistant hybrids (full season hybrids tend to have more resistance than short season hybrids), balanced soil fertility, recommended plant population.

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DISEASE NAME: GIBBERELLA STALK ROT

- Pathogen: Fungus. Gibberella zeae

- Symptoms: Stalks that are split open have a disintegrated pith with pink discoloration. 

- Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (seed,stalks), seed, soil.

- Control : Resistant hybrids. Full season hybrids tend to have more resistance than short season. Balanced soil fertility. Do not exceed recommended plant populations.

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EAR ROTS

DISEASE NAME: DIPLODIA EAR ROT

- Pathogen: Fungus. Diplodia maydis- Symptoms: Infection usually starts at the

base of the ear or from the stalk into the shank. White mycelial growth covers the kernels and pycnidia may be found on rotted kernels, husks adhere tightly, infected ears remain erect when infection occurs early in ear development. 

- Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (seed, cobs, ear shanks, stalks), soil.

- Control : Resistant hybrids, crop rotation, clean plowing, harvest early to prevent weathering. Dry corn to 15% moisture content and below to prevent further mold growth in storage.

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DISEASE NAME: GIBBERELLA EAR ROT

- Pathogen: Fungus. Gibberella zeae- Symptoms: Reddish mold that usually

starts at the tip of the ear. Husks may adhere tightly to the ear (hybrid dependent). 

- Inoculum Survival: Infected crop residue (stalks, seed), infected seed, soil. 

- Control : Resistant hybrids, crop rotation, harvest early to prevent continued mold growth in the field, clean plowing. Dry corn to 15% moisture content and below to prevent further mold growth in storage.

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DISEASE NAME: ASPERGILLUS EAR ROT

- Pathogen: Fungi. Aspergillus flavus, A. glaucus, A. niger 

- Symptoms: Aspergillus niger appears as a black mold on infected kernels. A. flavus is a greenish-yellow mold growing on damaged kernels. A. glaucus is a greenish mold. 

- Inoculum Survival: Infected plant residue, infected seed, soil. 

- Control : In storage, controlled by drying corn to a moisture content below 15% as soon after harvest as possible. In the field, avoid insect or mechanical damage to ears.

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OTHER DISEASE

DISEASE NAME: MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC

- Pathogen: Virus. Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) strain A or B 

- Symptoms: Stippled mottle or mosaic of light and dark green on the youngest leaves (may develop into narrow streaks). Upper internodes may be shortened. Older leaves may become blotched with red streaks

- Inoculum Survival: Weeds (rhizomes of perennial Johnsongrass).

- Control : Resistant hybrids, control rhizome Johnsongrass or other overwintering weed hosts.

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DISEASE NAME: MAIZE CHLOROTIC DWARF

- Pathogen: Virus. Maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV)

- Symptoms: Fine chlorotic striping is first evident on smallest visible leaf veins. Older leaves may exhibit reddening, yellowing and marginal necrosis

- Inoculum Survival: Weeds (rhizomes of perennial Johnsongrass). 

- Control: Resistant varieties. Sow early in the growing season to avoid large leaf hopper populations. Control perennial Johnsongrass.

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TITLE :

HARVEST & POST-HARVEST

MAIZE HARVESTING PROCESS

Harvest time

Harvesting process

requirement

Before Harvesting

After Harvesting

Losses due to poor storage

Conditions that favour aflatoxin contamination in maize grains

Losses due to mould

HARVEST TIME :

The optimum time of harvesting maize is when the stalks have dried and moisture of grain as

about 20-17%.

HARVESTING PROCESS REQUIREMENT :

* Harvest maize as soon as it is dry but not overstay in field it will be attacked by weevils

if does and lodge. * In addition to reducing post

harvest losses, this will also release the field for early land preparation.

* Keep the grain as clean as possible.*Dry maize

on cement floor or use tarpaulin to reduce chance of contamination.

* Dry on concrete or canvas not on bare soil.

PRE-HARVESTING :

Make sure the drying place or equipment is clean and disinfected, ready to receive the cobs.

Remove old grain and dirt from anything that will come in contact with the good or new grain. This includes harvesting

tools, carts, wheel barrows, bags and baskets.Where possible, fumigate them or at least treat them with

boiling water to kill insects or their eggs. This is done in order to avoid infection of new grain by insects and their eggs.Organize enough labour to reap and carry the cobs to the

drying place.

- Drying - the systematic reduction of crop moisture down to safe levels for storage, usually 12%-15.5% moisture content. It is one of the key post harvest operations since all down-stream operations depend on it.

- Shelling – It is commonly done by beating maize cobs with stick in a sack or a confined floor space where farmers can afford it.

- Storage - to maintain the stored grains in good condition so as to avoid deterioration both in quantity and quality.

POST-HARVESTING :

LOSSES DUE TO POOR STORAGE :

* Mould• Microbial infection in storage occurs due to

inadequate drying of produce. The situation is made worse when there are large numbers of insects present or when the stored crop is exposed to high humidity or actual wetting due to poor storage management. Fungal infection results into rots and development of aflatoxins, which are poisonous compounds to live stock and cause cancer in human.

CONDITIONS THAT FAVOUR AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN MAIZE GRAINS :

Aflatoxin contamination is encouraged by:• Physical damage due to poor shelling/threshing methods• Poor storage methods (exposure to moist condition)• Insect infestations.• Inadequate drying• Aflatoxin cannot be seen with a naked eye. However, suspect

materials tend to:• Be rotten• Be mouldy• Be discoloured• Have unpleasant smell• Have bitter taste• Have poor milling quality• Be warmer than room temperature

LOSSES DUE TO MOULD :

Loss of weightLoss of quality (smell, taste, colour, nutritional

value, germination)Further increase in temperature and moisture,

causing more grain deterioration.

THANK YOU!!