Reviews key challenges and advances in maize breeding methods;

Part 1 Genetic diversity and breeding1.Ensuring the genetic diversity of maize and its wild relatives: J. Stephen Smith, Iowa State University, USA; Candice A. C. Gardner, USDA-ARS/Iowa State University, USA; and Denise E. Costich, CIMMYT Germplasm Bank (Maize Collection), Mexico;2.Key challenges in maize breeding in sub-Saharan Africa: Baffour Badu-Apraku, IITA, Nigeria; M.A.B. Fakorede and R.O. Akinwale, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria;3.Developing maize-breeding methods and cultivars to meet the challenge of climate change: Marcelo J. Carena, North Dakota State University, USA;4.Understanding and improving protein traits in maize: Yongrui Wu, National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; and Joachim Messing, Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, USA;5.Advances in mycotoxin-resistant maize varieties: Marilyn L. Warburton and W. Paul Williams, USDA-ARS Corn Host Plant Research Resistance Unit, USA;6.Advances in cold-tolerant maize varieties: Csaba L. Marton and Zsuzsanna Tóthné Zsubori, MTA Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungary;Part 2 Understanding and improving maize nutritional and sensory quality7.Nutritional and nutraceutical/functional properties of maize: Dharam Paul Chaudhary, Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), India;8.Biofortification of maize: Eliab Simpungwe, HarvestPlus, Zambia;9.Assessing and improving the nutritional quality of maize: Elena Lima-Cabello and Paula Robles-Bolivar, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain and Jose C. Jimenez-Lopez, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Spain and The University of Western Australia, Australia;10.Analysing maize grain quality: Glen P. Fox and Tim J. O'Hare, The University of Queensland, Australia;Part 3 Translating research into practice: improving maize cultivation in the developing world11.Constraints in adopting improved technologies for maize cultivation: the case of Africa: T. Abdoulaye, The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria; A. S. Bamire and A. A. Akinola, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; and A. Alene, A. Menkir and V. Manyong, The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria;12.Supporting small holders in maize cultivation: using an agricultural innovation systems approach: Mariana Wongtschowski and Remco Mur, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), The Netherlands; and Carolina Camacho, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico;13.Women and maize cultivation: increasing productivity through gender analysis: Cheryl Doss, Oxford University, UK;