maize is cultivated on
more than 142 million ha worldwide and it is estimated to produce
around 913 million tonnes of grain per year, accounting for one
third of the total global grain production. Although maize is originally
from Mesoamerica, nowadays it is the third most important
cereal crop and ranks first in countries with developing economies
(Mejía, 2003). However, in arid and semi-arid regions and, particularly
in Mediterranean areas, maize is vulnerable to adverse
environmental conditions due to limited rainfall, high evapotranspiration,
and high temperature