Corn grows from seed into grain.
The first stages are called ‘stalks’, and are formed by a variety of microbes called nematodes.
During the later stages, called ’tissue’ stages, the nematode symbionts attach to the grain and the grain eventually becomes a part of the grain.
Crop growth and growth of the world’s grain industry is driven by the use of nematoderma and other microbes.
In some areas, the growing and harvest of corn and related crops are disrupted by pests such as corn rust, the introduction of disease into crops, and the emergence of genetically modified (GM) corn.
The World Food Programme has said it expects to harvest between 70-80% of the corn crop in the world in 2019.
As for how corn and its relatives are affected by GM crops, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said the risk of human exposure is “extremely low”.
“The most important thing is to be aware of the risk, avoid using GM maize and soybean, and not to grow maize that is grown without GM technology,” said a WHO spokesperson.
“We are in the process of developing guidelines for people to use for food safety.
In addition, we will be developing more detailed risk assessments for all crops.”
In 2019, the WHO says it will conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of GM crops in Europe, the US and Australia, and will provide advice to European Union countries and the UK.