Maize: Key agricultural crop in food security and sovereignty in a future with water scarcity

Abstract

The objective in this review was to discuss the importance of maize currently and the crucial role it may play in the future for food production in scenarios of water shortage, as well as the importance of conserving its landrace cultivars, which have a considerable portion of the reserve of genetic variability. Maize plants, when exposed to water deficit, may develop physiological, morphological, biochemical and anatomical adaptation mechanisms. With the aid of genetic improvement, characteristics that impart tolerance are fixed in plants through conventional methods. In this context, ‘Tuxpeño Sequia’ cultivars were developed in Mexico, while in Africa, one of the most important strategies was the development of ‘DT’ (Drought-tolerant) cultivars. In the United States, one of the most important processes was the development of PionerAquamax® hybrids, while in Brazil, it was the development of cultivars with the ‘Maya Latente’ gene. Through genetic transformation, the hybrid ‘MON 87460’ was developed. However, it should be mentioned that, for a cultivar to be well accepted by producers, besides having one or more adaptation characteristics, it must have a high grain yield. Biotechnological tools such as the use of molecular markers, genetic transformation, and modeling through bioinformatics, associated with conventional selection, will be fundamental to guarantee the advancement of water deficit tolerance in maize.

Delving into possible missing links for attainment of food security in Central Malawi: farmers’ perceptions and long term dynamics in maize (Zea mays L.) production

“…This shows that farmers should opt for drought-tolerant OPV maize should there be a likelihood of droughts in the area. However, local cultivars or varieties should be conserved for their diverse genetic variability for the development of climate-smart maize varieties (Langner et al, 2019). The lowest yields and production in the 2017/18 season for all maize types could suggest that they were all seriously prone to Fall armyworm attacks (See Appendix).…”

Herbicide stress-induced DNA methylation changes in two Zea mays inbred lines differing in Roundup® resistance

“…Cereals occupy the main position in the composition of a human diet, with rice, wheat, and Z. mays being the major staple cereals, having a share in excess of 70% among all food grains (Tyczewska et al 2018;OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2018-2027. Because of its high productivity, the importance for food and feed production and numerous industrial applications Z. mays, a plant originating from southern Mexico (Yang et al 2019), is currently cultivated worldwide on a large scale (Langner et al 2019;Handral et al 2017). When grown under non-optimal conditions, Z. mays is exposed to environmental stresses, and hence, to minimize the influence of stress on the yield, it is essential to minimize the competition for water, light, and minerals that occurs between Z. mays seedlings and weeds growing in the field (Craine and Dybzinski 2013).…”

Raw Secondary Metabolites of Chitosan-enriched Pseudomonas fluorescens P60 to Control Corn Sheath Blight

“…Maize is a strategic cereal with economic value and has the opportunity to be developed because of its position as the main source of carbohydrates and protein after rice as well as a source of feed (Langner et al, 2019). Until now, Indonesia still needs to import maize to meet the domestic needs (Bourgeois & Kusumaningrum, 2008).…”