Corn is an annual grass grown all over the world.

Maize is also known as "Queen of cereals".

Major maize growing countries in the world are USA, China, Brazil, India, Argentina, Ukraine, Mexico, Indonesia, France and South Africa.

In India major maize growing states are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Order: Cyperales
• Family: Poaceae
• Genus: Zea
• Species: mays

• Corn Ear and Kernels are economically important part.

Maize does well on a wide range of climatic conditions and can be grown in the tropical as well as temperate regions, from sea-levels up to altitudes of 2500m.

Maize is grown in temperatures between 18°C and 27°C during the day .

The crop is very susceptible to frost.

Maize is grown mostly in regions having annual rainfall between 60 cm to 110 cm.

Maize grows in a wide range of soils, ranging from temperate podzols to the leached red soils of the tropics.

The best suitable soil for maize is deep, rich soils of the sub-tropics, where there is abundant nitrogen.

• The major challenges involve: Biotic causes and Abiotic causes.
• Biotic causes involves
  • Major pest: Stem borer, Pink borer, Shoot fly and Termites.
  • Major Diseases: Charcoal rot, Leaf blight, Downy mildew, Corn rust and Stalk rot.
• Abiotic Causes
  • Blanking, Mottling, Chlorosis and Over maturity.