A unique confluence of archeology, molecular genetics and serendipity guided researchers to a deeper understanding of how modern corn was domesticated from teosinte, a perennial grass native to Mexico ...

CC0 Usage Conditions ApplyClick for more information. Modern corn is a food staple, animal feed, biofuel, industrial sweetener, alcohol base, and even a source for bio-plastics. But what do we really ...

This figure from the paper shows the evolution of root types from teosinte to modern corn over the last 10 000 years, simulated using the modeling program OpenSimRoot, which was developed by ...

There is nothing quite like a good tortilla. Unfortunately, almost no one in the U.S. has ever had a good, authentic tortilla—handmade, still warm from the comal it’s been cooked on, from landrace ...

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is key to plant nutrition, and hence is potentially key in sustainable agriculture. Fertilization and other agricultural practices reduce soil AM fungi and ...

Shorter corn is taking root in the Midwest as farmers test new hybrids that are more resilient, can be planted more efficiently and result in a larger harvest.