Seed maize production. To the left are the rows of seed-producing plants, to the right the ones with flowers left on for pollen.

Seed maize production. To the left are the rows of seed-producing plants, to the right the ones with flowers left on for pollen.

Alistair Scott / Alamy Stock Photo

Image ID: E7K3TY

This photograph shows the production techniques for producing hybrid seed maize. Hybrid maize is a cross-breed between different varieties, which tends to produce larger and hardier plants. Seeds for hybrid maize are produced by cross pollinating different inbred lines of maize and they account for more than 90% of all maize grown commercially. On the left on the image are rows of (female) seed-producing plants of one variety. Seed cobs can just be seen. These plants have had their flowering tops cut off to prevent them producing pollen. This means that the pollen for fertilising their seeds must come from the rows to the right of the image, which are plants of the second variety. The flowering tops of these plants can be seen. In the field five rows of the seed-bearing variety are alternated with five rows of the pollinating variety across the field. The hybrid seeds are only harvested from the plants with their flowering tops cut off. The other plants may be used for animal feed.

Location: Gland, Canton Vaud, Switzerland