Corn Facts

Corn, scientific name Zea mays also known as maize is one of the most important cereal crop grown for the first time in Mexico. It is one of the most widely used staple food all over the world. Corn belongs to family graminae, i.e. grass family. Nowadays farmers grow a number of strains of hybrid corn, which are developed by breeding two or more different varieties in order to have traits like disease and pest resistance. Corns are used directly as food, as animal feed, in biogas plants, for producing corn fuel and as a base for many of the products.

Corn Facts

Corn is produced in higher volume than any other grains. America is the highest producer contributing half of total world production. It is grown all over the world except in Antarctica. Peak season for corn production is May through September.

Corn is rich in starch (1.25 calorie per 1 gram), proteins and carbohydrates. It is used as sweetener in most of the soft drinks. One corn bushel can sweeten 400 cans of soft drinks.

Dry milling and wet milling are two main primary methods of processing corn kernels.

In terms of flour production, corn gives more flour with less bran than wheat.

Corn stem is similar to bamboo in having nodes and internodes. The stem is erect, about 2-3 meters (7-10 feet) in height and grows about 3 millimeters a day. Some of the varieties are used as ornamental plants.

In corn plant, there are two inflorescences, the male and the female. "Tassel" is male part and "Silk" is the female part.

There are about 800 kernels in an ear of corn in 16 rows and one pound of corn has approximately 1300 kernels. Size of an average ear is 12" by 14" in length.

White and yellow corn are two most popular varieties, white corn is smaller and sweeter than yellow corn. Kernel color can be white, yellow, red or bluish black.

As soon as corn is picked, sugar content starts converting into starch, thus reducing its natural sweetness. So, it is always better to consume fresh corn for better taste.

Corn flakes contain only 8% corn. Besides using for food and related products, it is also used in production of corn oil, fuel alcohol commonly called ethanol and biodegradable polyester (polylactic acid, PLA). Ethanol increases the burning capacity of gasoline and is pollution-free.

Corn, Bean and Squash together are known as "the three sisters", which grow from Mother Earth according to Native Americans.

Sweet corn leaves were used as chewing gum by the Indians. They used to grow corn by digging a small hole, putting kernels and a fish, which would later provide nutrients and then covering with soil.

Some people are allergic to corn and symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, asthma, etc. In Europe, it is mandatory to label any food product that contain corn.