Botany of maize

agrotechnology

1. Botany of Maize

2. Taxonomy of Maize Kingdom Plantae Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plant Superdivision Spermatophyta Seed plant Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plant Class Liliopsida Monocotyledon Subclass Commelinidae Order Cyperales Family Poaceae Grass family Genus Zea Species Zea mays Sunspecies Z. Mays supsp . mays

3. Nutritional Value per 100g of Maize Energy 360 kJ (86 kcal) Carbohydrates 18.7 g Fat 1.35 g Protein 3.27 g Water 75.96 g Zinc 0.46 mg Phosphorus 89 mg Potassium 270 mg Vitamin C 6.8 mg Iron 0.52 mg Magnesium 37 mg

4. Plant Morphology of Maize 1 to 4 meter tall Approximately 30 leaves A erect stalk- like structure Is a meristem Sheath surrounding the stalk Expanded blade by blade joint or collar Has nodes and internodes

5. Leaves Morphology of Maize Leaves are broad and a single leaf. Leaves are arranged in two vertical rows on the opposite sides of an axis. ( distichous ) Long, large, alternate, parallel veins

6. Root Morphology of Maize Fibrous root Brace root ~ form at the bottom of the stalk. ~ support the plant and scavenge top levels of soil for moisture and nutrients. Seminal root ~ nodal roots originate from scutellar node. ~ sustain seedling development by virtue water intake.

7. Reproductive Morphology of Maize Male & female inflorescence located at different part. Male inflorescence called tassel. Female inflorescence called ear. Maize pollen dispersion by wind. Annual plant.

8. Anther - male reproductive part of the corn plant. Consists of several small branches, along which small flowers grow. The flowers release pollen grains, which contain the male sex cell.

9. The ear is the female reproductive part of a corn plant. Ears develop from "shanks," which are stalk-like structures that grow from the plant's leaf nodes. A corn plant may produce many ears, but the uppermost ear will grow to be the largest. The ear consists of a cob, eggs that eventually develop into kernels and silks. Pollination occurs when pollen from the male tassel falls on the female silks.

10. Corn Seed of Maize A protective sheath enclosing the shoot tip and the embryonic leaves of grasses The triploid nutritive tissues formed within the embryo seed plants

11. Its Structure & Function Structure Function Stamen Pollen producing reproductive organ which are referred to as androecium . Stalk Also known as filament, the part of the stamen the anther develop. Anther The terminal part of a stamen which the pollens are produced. Style Slender part of the pistil, situated between the ovary and stigma. Stigma The receptive apex of the pistil of a flower on which pollen is deposited. Sheath Part of leaf originating from the node and running parallel to the culm or stem. Ligule A membrane located between the culm and the leaf blade.

12. Life Cycle of Maize The haploid gametophytic stage . Male gametogenesis - the microspore (pollen grain) undergoes two mitotic divisions to produce a three-celled gametophyte. Female gametogenesis -the megaspore undergoes three free-nuclear divisions followed by cellularization into seven cells, to produce a haploid megagametophyte . Egg cell becomes the embryo and fertilization by the second sperm of the central cell with the two polar nuclei produces the triploid endosperm (dashed arrows). (c) Shows the endosperm and embryo, both of which are products of the double fertilization. The outermost layer of the endosperm is the aleurone . The entire kernel is covered with a diploid maternal tissue called pericarp .

13. Corn has a life cycle of 120 to 150 days. It is best to plant after there is no more freezing and it is above 50 degrees. It will grow to 3 to 10 feet tall during its cycle. There are several types of kernels to use such as yellow , red, orange, black and bronze . For the corn to begin to germinate it has to have lots of water, 30 percent to be exact. The kernels must be planted 2 to 3 inches.