In traditional plant breeding, some inbred maize plants destined to be crossed with others have their male, pollen-producing tassels cut off to prevent self-fertilisation (maize is a horticultural hermaphrodite, carrying both male and female sex organs).

ECONOMIST: Terminator genes

In the tropics, the higher temperatures could be expected to cut yields of the primary food crops, maize and rice, by 20-40%, the researchers said.

BBC: Heat may spark world food crisis