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COULD THIS BE A WORLD FOOD HOLY GRAIL !

Scientists have discovered an ancient variety of corn called Sierra Mixe in 1980  maize that is self fertilising which could have a huge effect on farming by cutting production costs and COULD THIS BE A WORLD FOOD HOLY GRAIL !

Scientists have discovered an ancient variety of corn called Sierra Mixe in 1980  maize that is self fertilising which could have a huge effect on farming by cutting production costs and energy requirements that require expensive fertilisers .For poorer countries this could be a godsend .The plant grows to 20 feet high but the staggering fact is that the soil in the region was known to be poor in the usual vital nutrient of nitrogen .The plants ‘botanical trick’ is to develop aerial roots in the shape of lobes that develop from the main stalk and produce sugar rich gel like substance named mucilage .The low oxygen slime attracts bacteria which similar to soil manages to convert nitrogen in the air (80% so plenty ),into a  usable available product .Most of the plants requirement for nitrogen is met which is a staggeringly useful adaptation .University of California and Wisconsin ,Alan van Deynze comments these trial experiments far distant from Mexico have  found this plant still grows with ‘local bacteria ‘and this slime “could be the holy grail “of agriculture.

The likely benefits of this discovery provides huge benefits for the poorer farmers in poor soil growing conditions by saving billions on fertilisers therefore making a mega  potential of the usual possible corn products from this maize such as flour ,meal gluten starch ,too many to mention .Dr Shapiro of the two research Universities believes the potential is a cut of $10billion in the cost of fertilisers .”This could secure world food and genetic progress” Prof van Deynze states .

Eds note .This amazing information was related in the recent Sat Times uk by Rhys Blakely Science correspondent and it could herald something huge depending on plant growth trials at the above Universities .I am assuming the plants are clones .!

energy requirements that require expensive fertilisers .For poorer countries this could be a godsend .The plant grows to 20 feet high but the staggering fact is that the soil in the region was known to be poor in the usual vital nutrient of nitrogen .The plants ‘botanical trick’ is to develop aerial roots in the shape of lobes that develop from the main stalk and produce sugar rich gel like substance named mucilage .The low oxygen slime attracts bacteria which similar to soil manages to convert nitrogen in the air (80% so plenty ),into a  usable available product .Most of the plants requirement for nitrogen is met which is a staggeringly useful adaptation .University of California and Wisconsin ,Alan van Deynze comments these trial experiments far distant from Mexico have  found this plant still grows with ‘local bacteria ‘and this slime “could be the holy grail “of agriculture.

The likely benefits of this discovery provides huge benefits for the poorer farmers in poor soil growing conditions by saving billions on fertilisers therefore making a mega  potential of the usual possible corn products from this maize such as flour ,meal gluten starch ,too many to mention .Dr Shapiro of the two research Universities believes the potential is a cut of $10billion in the cost of fertilisers .”This could secure world food and genetic progress” Prof van Deynze states .

Eds note .This amazing information was related in the recent Sat Times uk by Rhys Blakely Science correspondent and it could herald something huge depending on plant growth trials at the above Universities .I am assuming the plants are clones .!

Eds note .This amazing information was related in the recent Sat Times uk by Rhys Blakely Science correspondent and it could herald something huge depending on plant growth trials at the above Universities .I am assuming the plants are clones .!