The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), feeds on a wide range of host plants, necessitating evaluation of host-specific effects on its development and reproduction. Age-stage, two-sex life table analysis was utilised to quantify developmental and population parameters on seven hosts: Maize (Zea mays), Napier bajra (Pennisetum purpureum x P. glaucum), Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus), Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Mung bean (Vigna radiata), Soybean (Glycine max), and Desmodium gangeticum under controlled conditions (26 ± 1°C; 65 ± 5% RH; 14L:10D). FAW completed development on all hosts except Desmodium, as larval survival failed, underscoring its unsuitabilityand potential as a deterrent crop. Maize was the most suitable host, supporting shortest larval (12.89 days) and pupal (7.87 days) durations, highest pupal weight (197.02 mg), fecundity (733.28 eggs per female), and superior population parameters, including the highest intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.213), net reproductive rate (R₀ = 366.64), and shortest generation time (T = 27.63 days). Napier bajra and guinea grass supported moderate performance, suggesting potential as trap crops under laboratory conditions. Legumes were unsuitable for different developmental stages, indicating their potential as a suppressive host. Mung bean was the destitute host, with prolonged larval (27.02 days) and pupal (9.85 days) durations, lowest pupal weight (127.32 mg), reduced fecundity (152.91 eggs per female), and suppressed demographic parameters (rm = 0.079; R₀ = 33.64; T = 44.74 days). These host-mediated responses provide biologically grounded insights for trap and deterrent crop selection for strengthening habitat-manipulation strategies for FAW management in Indian agroecosystems.

The Fremont archaeological complex of the northern Colorado Plateau represents a mixed subsistence economy based on small-scale farming and foraging. However, the role of maize within the Fremont diet and its temporal span are poorly understood in northwestern Colorado, which is an eastern periphery of the broader Fremont tradition. Previous estimates in the region suggest that Fremont lifeways began early in the first millennium AD and persisted late into the 1600s. In this study, we examine 53 radiocarbon dates of maize macrofossils and short-lived wood/plant fragments from granary features from 33 sheltered and open-air sites in the study area. Based on our Bayesian modeling efforts, small-scale corn farming most likely began around cal AD 740–815 and ended between cal AD 1270 and 1320, with a modeled duration of 515 years. Several peaks are apparent within the summed probability distribution (cal AD 970–1050 and cal AD 1090–1130), suggesting that the most intensive era for maize farming is coeval with social and subsistence trends evident across the broader Uinta Basin. We provide evidence of a restricted maize chronology throughout the study area, but further work is needed to understand the proportional contribution of maize to the Fremont diet.

McEuen Cave (AZ W:13:6 (ASM)) is a large bedrock rockshelter located within an andesitic rocky ash flow tuff/ignimbrite within the Bureau of Land Management’s Fishhooks Wilderness Area near Fort Thomas, Arizona. Exceptional preservation at the site has produced an extensive assemblage of perishable artifacts, including a tremendous quantity of cultigen remains radiocarbon dated between 3600 BP and 1250 BP. In this paper, we provide the results of a new radiocarbon dating effort aimed at identifying additional early Silverbell Interval cultigens and clarifying the intensity and persistence of Early Agricultural Period occupation. Our goal is to better understand the age and extent of early cultivation activities within this high-elevation wilderness and contextualize the remains from this site with the more thoroughly understood co-eval Early Agricultural Period villages evidenced along major riverways such as the San Pedro and Santa Cruz in southern Arizona. [Spanish language abstract: La cueva McEuen (AZ W:13:6 (ASM)) es un gran refugio rocoso de lecho rocoso ubicado dentro de una toba/ignimbrita de flujo de cenizas rocosas andesíticas dentro del área silvestre Fishhooks de la Oficina de Administración de Tierras cerca de Fort Thomas, Arizona. La preservación excepcional en el sitio ha producido un extenso conjunto de artefactos perecederos, incluyendo una tremenda cantidad de restos de cultígenos fechados por radiocarbono entre 3600 BP y 1250 BP. En este documento, proporcionamos los resultados de un nuevo esfuerzo de datación por radiocarbono destinado a identificar cultígenos adicionales del Arcaico tardío-medio y aclarar la intensidad y persistencia de la ocupación del Período Agrícola Temprano. Nuestro objetivo es comprender mejor la edad y el alcance de las actividades de cultivo tempranas dentro de este desierto de gran altitud y contextualizar los restos de este sitio con las aldeas coeval del Período Agrícola Temprano mejor entendidas evidenciadas a lo largo de las principales vías fluviales como el San Pedro y el Santa Cruz en el sur de Arizona.]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a major invasive pest threatening maize production in India. Temperature strongly influences its development, reproduction and population dynamics. This study evaluated the biological performance of S. frugiperda on maize across seven constant temperature regimes (14 ± 1°C to 38 ± 1°C) under controlled laboratory conditions, using the age-stage, two-sex life table approach. Developmental time decreased significantly with rising temperatures, while survival and fecundity peaked at 26 ± 1°C and 30 ± 1°C. The highest values of net reproductive rate (R0 = 499.91 females/female), intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.25 females/female/day), and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.28 females/day) were recorded at 30 ± 1°C, followed by 26 ± 1°C (R0 = 467.32, rm = 0.24, and λ = 1.26, respectively). In contrast, thermal extremes delayed development and adversely affected both survival and reproduction. No development occurred at 38 ± 1°C. Population projections indicated rapid generational turnover at optimal temperatures, with up to nine generations annually at 26 ± 1°C. The temperature range of 26–30 ± 1°C was found to be optimal for both survival and reproduction of S. frugiperda, aligning with kharif season temperatures in North India, particularly Punjab. These conditions promote multiple generations annually, whereas extreme summer or winter temperatures may limit population development. The findings advocate for temperature-informed, location-specific pest control strategies. Intervening during critical developmental windows, especially at the egg and larval stages, can limit population buildup. Insights into the pest’s thermal adaptability contribute to the advancement of climate-resilient, sustainable pest management frameworks for maize systems in North India and similar agroclimatic regions.

In the Mississippian Southeast and Midwest, large fabric-impressed pans have traditionally been associated with the evaporation of brine to make salt. Although many of these vessels were undoubtedly used for this purpose, their presence at non-salt-making sites suggests that they sometimes served other functions. Using compound-specific isotope analysis, a sample of 74 fabric-impressed pan sherds from 12 sites in the Middle Cumberland Region of Tennessee was tested for absorbed organic residues to better understand the role of this vessel form in Mississippian foodways. Four residues from four different sites yielded evidence of C4 plant contribution, indicating that these vessels were likely involved in the preparation of maize. Additionally, 27 interpretable residues suggest a broader range of use, with three samples containing potential indicators of fish or shellfish, pointing to their role in preparing nonmaize foods.

The host plant associations of the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), a major pest of wheat, before and after wheat harvest remain poorly understood. Overlapping growth of maize and wheat may promote R. padi survival and movement between crops. We examined population dynamics and constructed life tables for R. padi reared on wheat seedlings, maize husks, and maize leaves. Field-collected R. padi survived on both maize tissues, but aphid abundance declined sharply on aging maize leaves, while aphids on maize husks developed successfully. Aphids reared on wheat exhibited the fastest development, longest lifespan (27.89 ± 1.20 days), highest fecundity (98.59 ± 5.61 nymphs), and lowest mortality (2.56%). In contrast, aphids transferred to maize leaves showed reduced longevity (19.62 ± 1.16 days), lower fecundity (33.55 ± 2.47 nymphs), and higher mortality (23.73%). No significant differences in some reproductive parameters were observed between wheat- and maize husk-reared aphids, indicating relatively good performance on maize husks. Aphids transferred from wheat to maize experienced fitness costs, while aphids moved from maize husks back to wheat exhibited improved performance. These findings suggest that maize husks offer a comparatively favourable resource microhabitat for R. padi, potentially serving as a secondary host that supports population persistence after wheat harvest.

Maize holds a key role in ensuring food security in Ethiopia, yet its productivity faces challenges due to water scarcity and soil acidity. Minimizing these problems is crucial to enhance maize yield and maintain food security. This research explored the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) combined with lime, manure, and inorganic fertilizer application on maize yield and water productivity (WP) in Koga, Ethiopia. Three levels of DI, namely 80%, 60%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), alongside 100% ETc (full irrigation) as a reference, were implemented for two consecutive seasons. Five integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) treatments were evaluated over two successive seasons: (i) combining 1.43 Mg ha–1 of lime with 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of urea + (NPSB, containing 18.9% Nitrogen, 37.7% Phosphorus, 6.95% Sulphur, and 0.1% Boron), referred to as inorganic fertilizer (L1); (ii) combining 1.15 Mg ha–1 of lime with 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (L2); (iii) combining 0.86 Mg ha–1 of lime with 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (L3); (iv) applying 3 Mg ha–1 of manure and full doses of inorganic fertilizer (M); and (v) using only full doses of inorganic fertilizer (C). Grain yield and biomass were measured at harvest from a 9 m2 sample area in each plot, with three replicates. The combined effects of DI, liming and manuring significantly influenced average grain yield and biomass. Across all irrigation scenarios, higher grain yield and biomass production were found with treatments L1, L2, L3, and M compared to treatment C. The highest WP was found with 50% ETc under all ISFM treatments. The lowest maize yield and WP were recorded with treatment C across all irrigation levels. Manuring combined with reduced irrigation increased grain yield, biomass, and WP compared to the use of inorganic fertilizer alone at 100% ETc. The combined use of lime and manure could mitigate the negative impact of DI on yield.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main staples in the Peruvian Andes. Phenotypic diversity is extremely high in terms of plant morphology, grain colour, grain size and uses. However, little is known about the genetic component of the Peruvian maize. Genotyping-by-sequencing was used, for the first time, to infer the genetic diversity and population structure of 25 accessions of maize collected from two ecoregions of the departments of the Peruvian highlands, Cajamarca and Huancavelica, to provide a basis for the conservation and breeding of this crop genetic resource. A total of 29,332 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified along all 10 chromosomes of maize. STRUCTURE analysis revealed two clusters (open-pollinated cultivars and landraces). Principal coordinate analysis and our dendrogram showed that these accessions of Peruvian maize do not group based on their geographic origin but on their improvement status, however, this is weakly supported. Average genetic diversity was very high (0.35). Analysis of molecular variance showed a reduced variation between populations (2.85%) and indicated that variability within populations is 97.15%. The lowest population divergence was zero for populations of Colcabamba versus Pichos and Daniel Hernandez versus Colcabamba and the highest population divergence (0.041) was observed for population Cajamarca versus Santiago de Tucuma. As expected, FIS values were positive. Additional samples from other Andean and west coast Peruvian localities are needed to provide a better understanding of the genetic components of this important crop aiming to develop a modern breeding programme of maize in Peru.

En este trabajo presentamos la primera evidencia de cultivo de Triticeae (trigo y/o cebada) en una parcela arqueológica del sitio Pueblo Guayascate 1, emplazado en la actual provincia de Córdoba, centro de Argentina. La presencia de especies euroasiáticas tras la instauración del orden colonial ibérico en el actual territorio argentino ha sido referenciada por la documentación escrita de los siglos dieciséis y diecisiete y corroborada por los análisis de restos arqueológicos macro y microbotánicos. Guayascate fue parte de una encomienda —y luego de una merced de tierras— que le fue otorgada a los españoles a finales del siglo dieciséis. Esto implicó no sólo la presencia de mano de obra de los antiguos habitantes del lugar, sino también la ocupación de sus tierras, lo cual es signo de contacto y co-existencia entre españoles y nativos. Los análisis de microrrestos botánicos silicios al sedimento de una parcela en momentos de contacto y ocupación, evidencian el cultivo de trigo y/o cebada en asociación con maíz. Este hallazgo nos permite arriesgar algunas conjeturas sobre la producción y el consumo de alimentos de estos grupos, como también avanzar en el conocimiento sobre los cambios y continuidades en la cultura alimenticia acaecidos tras la instauración del sistema colonial.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) are essential crops for Ghana’s economy and food security, but weed infestation poses a significant threat to their cultivation. Crop rotations influence weed communities, but little is known about these processes in peanut-cropping systems in West Africa. This study investigated the impact of different crop rotations and input levels on weed communities in Ghana over 3 yr. Results showed that low inputs (absence of herbicide and fertilization) favored species richness, while higher input levels (weed control with herbicides and fertilizer use) reduced it. Diversity and evenness were also affected by inputs, with varying patterns across locations and seasons. Weed population growth rates (λ) varied significantly by location and treatment; all management programs resulted in increasing weed populations. Principal component analysis revealed distinct associations between weed species and crop management. The majority of weed species exhibited a generalist behavior and did not associate with a particular management. However, billygoat weed (Ageratum conyzoides L.) and Benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis L.) were positively associated with high-input systems, while purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) exhibited strong associations with low and medium inputs. The weed–crop rotation dynamics described here demonstrate how management drives the selection of weed species that are more pervasive and interfere with important food crops in Ghanaian agriculture.

Use of diverse germplasm for generating heterotic hybrids is the foremost requirement in maize. The present study was conducted by using a diverse set of inbred lines and the line × tester method was applied to identify best performing lines and to group QPM inbred lines into different heterotic groups. The test crosses, developed by following line (66) × tester (CML 161 and CML 165) mating design, were evaluated during winter 2013, rainy 2014 and 2015 seasons at Begusarai and Ludhiana, respectively. Based on the specific combining ability, the lines were categorized into two heterotic groups. Out of 66 novel inbreds, 18 lines with significant SCA with CML165 were classified in group A, 16 inbreds with significant SCA with CML161 were classified in group B and 20 inbreds with significant GCA were classified in group (AB). Nine inbred lines were selected based on their positive GCA values and pedigree crosses were developed in rainy season in 2017. Three crosses were made in heterotic group A and four crosses were in group B for synthesizing new inbred lines by using pedigree method. Heterotic grouping based inbred evaluation trial and biochemical analysis were carried out to estimate per se yield potential of developed lines and to estimate tryptophan content. QIL-4-2491 (Group-A) and QIL-4-2401 (Group-B) were the top yielders. A total of 25 crosses were made among the heterotic groups (A and B) by using 22 lines from groups A and B and three best performing hybrids were identified.

The present study generates information related to the molecular divergence between turcicum leaf blight (TLB)-resistant and -susceptible lines. During molecular diversity studies, a total of 212 alleles were detected at 75 marker loci and ranged from two to five with an average of 2.83 alleles per locus. A direct correlation for the number of alleles and polymorphism information content (PIC) values was ascertained. For instance, marker phi123 produced high number of alleles (5) with PIC values of 0.77. Using the DARwin 6.0 programme, the UPGMA dendrogram grouped 40 maize inbreds into two distinct clusters, cluster-I (36 inbreds) and cluster-II (4 inbreds). Cluster-I contained two subclusters; the first subcluster contained 28 inbreds and the second subcluster contained eight inbreds whereas cluster-II contained four inbreds. This major cluster-II was further classified into two subclusters which contained two inbreds each. Most of the inbred lines except V-25 from cluster-II were highly resistant to TLB disease. These inbred lines can be used in crossing programmes to develop TLB-resistant hybrids by using divergent parents. In this study, allelic diversity and PIC values indicated a good efficiency of markers for studying the polymorphism level available in studied inbred lines. High level of diversity among the inbreds detected with simple sequence repeat markers indicated their suitability for the further breeding programme.

The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have witnessed a literary revival in the Indigenous languages of the region known canonically as “Latin America.” Across this varied corpus, a major theme is the cultural significance of maize. This article compares the depiction of maize in four bilingual poems, each written in a different Indigenous language alongside Spanish: Nahuatl (Ethel Xochitiotzin Pérez), Yucatec Maya (María Dolores Dzul Barboza), Central Quechua (César Vargas Arce), and Southern Quechua (Emilio Corrales). Through close textual analysis and by recourse to theoretical perspectives such as “literary cartography,” the “textual continuum,” “deep mapping,” and “trans-indigeneity,” the article argues that each poem communicates culturally specific ways of understanding geography that, when set in dialogue, challenge hegemonic definitions of the Western Hemisphere such as North, South, or Latin “America.” Rather, the poems in combination weave an interconnected yet multiperspectival cartographic tapestry with maize as the common thread.

Quality protein maize (QPM) has protein quality of opaque 2 (>0.074% tryptopan) with endosperm modifiers which turn its kernels vitreous that is similar to normal maize. Use of QPM as a cereal can significantly improve daily intake of lysine and tryptophan for humans and livestock. However QPM cultivars have lower yields due to trait compensation. Therefore, a breeding programme was carried out to convert parental lines of Shalimar maize hybrid 5 (SMH-5) viz. IML-187 and BML-6 into QPM versions. Marker polymorphism was worked out in donors and recipients. IML-187 was crossed with DQL-2029-1 and BML-6 was crossed with DQL-779-2-9. The first and second backcross generations involving IML-187 as recurrent parent were marked as BC1F1 (A) and BC2F1 (A) respectively, whereas those involving BML-6 were designated as BC1F1 (B) and BC2F1 (B) respectively. The BC2F2 lines derived from two generation of backcrossing coupled with SSR marker and phenotypic background and foreground selection were advanced to BC2F3. Approximately 80–90% of RPG similarity was observed in BC2F2 lines. Eight lines namely IML-187 × DQL-2029-1- BC2F3:06, 07 and 23: BML-6 × DQl-779-2-9: 02,04,09,20 and 13 were identified from BC2F3 to have tryptophan higher than 0.075% and <25% opaqueness. These lines were used for trait fixing and crosses were made to produce QPM version of SMH-5. Six improved versions of SMH-5 were selected for higher grain yield and tryptophan content and are to be employed in further testing and varietal release in Northern Hill Zone (NHZ) in India.

Smallholders in Southern Africa continue to grapple with low maize productivity despite this being the staple food crop. This study sought to analyze and isolate the relative contribution of agronomic practices to maize yields obtained by smallholders in Malawi and Mozambique using data generated from on-farm trials testing the performance of conservation agriculture cropping systems. The trials were implemented in two communities, namely Kasungu district in Malawi and Sussundenga district in Mozambique, and ran for seven consecutive growing seasons starting in 2010–2011. Maize yield was measured annually in the on-farm trials, which included a ‘control treatment’ representing an improved farm practice, and in neighboring fields managed by the same farmers on their own, hence representing a ‘true farm practice’. Results indicated that maize yield increased linearly with increasing plant population at harvest at both sites. On average, an increase in plant population at harvest by 1000 plants ha–1 resulted in an increase in maize yield of 90 and 63 kg ha–1 at Kasungu and Sussundenga, respectively. The greatest maize yields were obtained when plant population at harvest exceeded 40 000 plants ha–1. Yet, the plant population at harvest was below the generally recommended optimum for most of the cropping systems studied and in most growing seasons. Furthermore, the use of agronomic practices alone without conservation agriculture (i.e., improved varieties, fertilizer management, and timely weed control) resulted in maize yield gains of as much as 54% and 43% relative to the ‘true farm practice’ at Kasungu and Sussundenga, respectively. Overall, the proportion of these yield increases relative to the ‘true farm practice’ accounted for by agronomic practices amounted to 53–70% and 57–85% at Kasungu and Sussundenga for the highest to the lowest-yielding cropping system. Although conservation agriculture significantly improved maize yield at both sites, such increases were smaller in magnitude compared to the yield gains derived from improved agronomic practices. The study suggests that considerable strides toward narrowing maize yield gaps in Southern Africa can be achieved through improvement of current crop management practices, let alone adhering to the conservation agriculture principles of minimum tillage, residue retention, and crop diversification.

The transition to maize agriculture frames important cultural shifts in the Eastern Woodlands. However, the tempo and mode of this transition are unclear, particularly when analytical techniques are not standard across the region. In this article, we present evidence of directly dated maize macrobotanical fragments from the Turpin site in southwest Ohio that date between cal AD 552–649 and 684–994. These dates add to current dialogues on the spread of maize in the American Midcontinent and help further situate the Middle Ohio Valley as a cultural crossroads through which people and ideas flowed. We echo suggestions that, to refine our understanding of the introduction of maize into the region, we must develop pan-regional analytical standards and create multiple working hypotheses at a variety of scales.

The North-Eastern region (NER) of India falls under the Eastern Himalayan region and it is a bio-diversity hub. Diverse maize landraces with wide adaptability to extreme climatic and soil scenario like heavy rainfall, drought and acidic soil conditions have been grown in NER since time immemorial. However, maize diversity in NER region has drastically reduced due to introduction of high yielding varieties and hybrids. Modern maize breeding programmes are focused on high yield but other unique traits like stay green trait, prolificacy (more than one fertile ear per plant), self-fertilizing ability are also important and the local germplasm of the NER region can contribute with these unique traits. Prior to the selection of any lines in several breeding programmes, assessment of genetic diversity and population structure are basic requirements. Hence, in the present study assessment of genetic diversity and population structure study in 30 maize inbreds developed from different germplasm of NER was undertaken using SSR markers, selected for their broad distribution throughout the genome, in order to assess the extent of allelic diversity among the lines and whether any population structure could be established. In addition to assessing molecular diversity, the study aims to evaluate the potential for yield and other beneficial and unique alleles that have high potential to contribute in the genetic enhancement programme of maize.

Archaeologists working in eastern North America typically refer to precontact and early postcontact Native American maize-based agriculture as shifting or swidden. Based on a comparison with European agriculture, it is generally posited that the lack of plows, draft animals, and animal manure fertilization resulted in the rapid depletion of soil nitrogen. This required Indigenous farmers to move their fields frequently. In Northern Iroquoia, depletion of soil fertility is frequently cited as one reason why villages were moved to new locations every 20 to 40 years. Recent analysis of δ15N ratios of maize macrobotanical remains from Northern Iroquoia, however, suggests that Iroquoian farmers were able to maintain soil nitrogen in their maize fields. An expanded analysis of maize kernel δ15N ratios from three ancestral Mohawk villages indicates that farmers from those villages maintained soil nitrogen throughout the occupational spans of their villages. It further suggests that precontact Iroquoian agronomy was consistent with contemporary conservation agriculture practices.

We present macrobotanical, starch, and phytolith data from artifacts and sediments from Middle Formative La Blanca (1000–600 cal BC) and Late Formative El Ujuxte (600 cal BC–cal AD 115 ) in the Soconusco region in Guatemala. Potential economic plants identified included palm (cf. Arecaceae), two varieties of maize (Zea mays), guava (Psidium guajava), bean (Phaseolus), chili peppers (Capsicum), squash (Cucurbitaceae), custard apple (Annonaceae), coco plum (Chrysobalanaceae), lerén (Calathea), arrowroot (Maranta), and bird-of-paradise (Heliconia). The results suggest that control of food production and consumption was critical for the transition from complex chiefdoms during the Middle Formative to the archaic state in the Late Formative. The arrival of a more productive South American variety of maize at El Ujuxte (about 2549 BP) allowed elites to exploit an already existing broad-based economic system and to use the maize-based religious system to increase control over maize agricultural practices and maintain power through ideology and disciplinary power. These data suggest that the arrival of fully domesticated South American maize likely influenced the overall development of Mesoamerican state-level societies.