The drier the region, the fewer seminal roots the maize varieties cultivated there had on average (black figure; the pie chart shows the proportion of varieties with up to one seminal root in yellow, ...

You can’t construct a strong building on a weak foundation, and you can’t grow a great corn crop on a weak root system. From freezing temperatures to voracious underground pests and other threats, ...

Corn was domesticated from its ancestor teosinte in central Mexico beginning about 9,000 years ago by humans selectively breeding the wild plant, transforming its small, hard-shelled kernels into the ...

Root system architecture (RSA) encompasses the three‐dimensional configuration of a plant’s root network, which plays a critical role in water and nutrient uptake, anchorage and overall plant fitness.

Scientists identify genes affecting root length that could make it easier to breed drought-resistant wheat. Wheat is a key crop for ensuring global food security, but drought associated with climate ...

You can’t build a farm shop on a weak foundation, and you can’t grow a high-yielding corn crop with weak roots. Healthy corn roots enable efficient resource ...

Maize can grow successfully in very different local conditions. An international study has now demonstrated the important role of the plant root system. The researchers analyzed more than 9,000 ...