Introduction of Maize Germplasm in India: Utilization and Opportunities

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop having
significance as food, feed and industrial raw material.
India harbours quite rich diversity in maize particularly
in the North-eastern Himalayan region. Impressed by
this diversity some workers have proposed Asiatic origin
of maize. But indigenous diversity is very limited in
comparison to that available in Mexico and South
America, and it widely agreed that maize originated
in Mexico about 9,000 years ago.