A clear strip of graphene tape, just one atom thick and housing hundreds of microscopic sensors, tells plant breeders which strains best use water and nutrients and therefore grow faster. In corn breeding experiments at Iowa State University, the sensors allow researchers to measure the time it takes for two kinds of corn plants to […] Read more
Tag Archives plant breeding
VIDEO: Plant breeding charts future
CALGARY — Biotech pioneer Rob Fraley feels the biggest benefits to agriculture from genetic tools haven’t come from inserting genes or building custom chemical compounds to support plants, but in plant breeding. “And Canadian farmers have benefited greatly from this technology,” he said. The head of Monsanto’s global research program said the current success and […] Read more
CRISPR: cutting edge tech for plant breeders
account_id=”2206156280001″ player_id=”HJ11Iy7v”][/audio] If the player above doesn’t work, try this one: Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. The story of genetically modified crops began two decades ago, but the tale of that technology may be entering its final chapter. Many plant scientists believe genome editing, a new method to alter plant […] Read more
Leafy silage corn about to get better
BLENHEIM, Ont. — Francis Glenn scored a coup when he released the world’s first leafy corn varieties more than 20 years ago. That achievement and more recent silage corn breeding advances will be recognized in July at the annual meeting of the Canadian Seed Trade Association in Windsor, Ont., where Glenn is slated to receive […] Read more
Vegetables could improve canola performance
Hybrid crop | Alberta scientist believes genes from vegetable crops could improve disease resistance and yields
EDMONTON — Cabbage, cauliflower, rutabaga and brussels sprouts may hold the key to improved disease resistance and higher canola yields, says a University of Alberta plant breeder. Habibur Rahman said he hopes the thousands of genes locked into vegetable crops and other members of the brassica family will help him develop more genetic diversity in […] Read more
