Maize in heat stress

The marks left on this trial field by this summer’s heat and drought are clear for all to see. The maize plants are on average at lea… more

Wanted: Resistant European corn borers!

June 2003. Hundreds of small plastic beakers are neatly laid out in a shady greenhouse. In each one a caterpillar is metamorphosising into … more

Bt maize and arthropods: Species diversity under the microscope

December 2002. The maize field was harvested a long time ago. There is nothing left to be done here, but the countless insects and spiders … more

On the trail of the European corn borer

Early October 2002. A wonderful late summer day with blue sky and sunshine. Even from a distance there’s obviously a lot going on by … more

Bt maize and arthropods: The time of the ‘pollen eaters’

It is early August 2002. The maize field has become a forest - the plants have shot up almost a metre in the last three weeks, despite the … more

Bt maize and arthropods: A visit to Thripse & Co.

Mid July 2002. The maize is already almost chest height. “It can grow thirty centimetres a week”, says Achim Gathmann,”as… more

Alone in the maize field

The end of June, nine thirty in the morning at the edge of the field, as agreed. A vast field of maize, several trial tents, but no one to … more