Maize stalks

Comparison of qualitative and quantitative data on lignification of the upper and the lower internodes of maize stems shown in Tables III to V, indicated only weak quantitative differences in lignin contents. However, there were significant differences in lignin monomeric composition and reactivity (delignification) between internodes in the maize stalk. 

Maize is grown in most U.S. states, where European com borer and Southwestern com borer are major lepidopteran insect pests. The transgenic CiylAb protein expressed in Bt maize can provide protection against these two pests. Control of these insect pests depends among others on the timing of pesticide applications, because the larvae spent part of their life inside maize stalks where pesticides may not be effective at all. 

Little information is available as to the fate of absorbed nitrate. Questions of the following type are largely unanswered. How is absorbed nitrate partitioned between root cells for assimilation and storage and to the xylem for transport to the shoot How is the nitrate partitioned among the storage cells, e.g., stalk pith cells and midribs of maize, the various leaves and the various cells, e.g., mesophyll and bundle sheath cells of C4 plants within the leaf How is nitrate transferred from storage cells, e.g., pith cells of maize stalks, to leaf cells for assimilation How in assimilatory cells is nitrate partitioned between the protoplasm and the vacuole ... 

Wang Y, Blaschek HP. (2011). Optimization of butanol production from tropical maize stalk juice by fermentation with Clostridium beijetinckii NCIMB 8052. Bioresour Technol, 102,... 

The main aim of the work is to focus on maize fibers for reinforcement with thermosetting polymers in the process of vacuum assisted RTM and examine the prepared composite material. Natural fibers reinforced polymers have large advantages such as high specific properties, high mechanical properties, low density, low weight, and low cost. The study focused much on maize stalk based fiber its chemical and thermal properties and also its influence in thermosetting polymers. 

Various researchers had found that stalk fibers have better properties than that of the other parts of plant fiber and indicated that they can be used for composite and other industrial applications (Reddy and Yang, 2009). Natural fiber composite laminates with distributed areca and maize stalk fibers using phenol formaldehyde were investigated (Kumar, 2008). Composite laminates were prepared with different proportions of phenol formaldehyde and fibers. Mechanical test such as tensile test, adhesion test, moisture... 

Table 2. Chemical constituents of maize stalk fiber (Reddy and Yang, 2(X)5a).

Cellulose Hemicellulose Maize stalk fiber Synthetic fibers Thermoplastic resins... 

FIGURE 8 (a) Maize Stalk (b) Packing box made from maize fiber. 

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