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Tanaman Makanan: Food Crops
Tanaman Makanan: Food Crops
Food Crops
AGR3502
Corn = Maize
• Zea mays
• family:Poaceae
Maize Taxonomy, Morphology and
Reproduction
• Maize (Zea mays L.) is a member of the grass
family, Poaceae (Gramineae)
• It is unique among the cereal crops because it
is monoecious (it bears separate male and
female inflorescences on the same plant).
• The main stem terminates in a tassel (male
inflorescence), and the grain is borne on
lateral shoots (ears).
Maize - morphology
• Maize generally has one main stem, but
some varieties can produce tillers.
• The maize stem is round and erect,
with conspicuous nodes and
internodes.
• Unlike many grasses, the stem is solid
rather than hollow. The leaves are
borne in an alternate pattern on
opposite sides of the stem.
Morphology – corn ear
• Most commercial varieties of field corn
produce a single ear.
• Ear shoots grow in the leaf axils below the top
ear, but generally do not develop unless the
top ear is removed, or the plants are widely
spaced in the field. Sweet corn and popcorn
varieties are often prolific (have more than
one ear per plant).
Corn grains
• Maize is a large-seeded plant that can be
rapidly multiplied.
• A single cob of maize can produce about 800
seeds, which would be enough to plant about
100 m2 of corn
Importance, history and
adaptation
• The crop that is grown widely throughout the
world in a range of agroecological
environments.
• The grains are rich in vitamins A,
C and E, carbohydrates, and essential
minerals, and contain 9% protein. They are
also rich in dietary fiber and calories which are
a good source of energy.
…..cont
• In industrialized countries, maize is largely
used as livestock feed and as a raw material
for industrial products.
• In some countries, consumed as a vegetable
although it is a grain crop.
• Biofuel for the future
Brief history of corn
• The likeliest primary center of origin is Central
America and Mexico. Based on diverse types
of corn found there.
Adaptation
• Can be grown from latitude 58oN to 35oS.
From sea level to 4,000 m altitudes.
• Crop cycle from 50-330 days.
• Modern varieties mature between 90-120
days.
Corn producer
Percentage contribution by
countries
Climatic requirement
Ideal temp. 20-27oC
not less than 10oC
not more than 30oC