-
- B11J-1584: Discovering Hidden Photosynthetic Gain in Modern Corn Breeding through Chlorophyll Fluorescence
-
Board 1584‚ Hall EFG (Poster Hall)NOLA CC
Author(s):Generic 'disconnected' Message
Seungjoon Lee, Cornell University (First Author, Presenting Author)
Luke Gregory, Cornell University
Liam Wickes-Do, Cornell University
Nick Lepak, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service
Cinta Romay, Cornell University
Edward Buckler, Cornell University
Michael Gore, Cornell University
Ying Sun, Cornell University
Corn yields have climbed for decades, yet most breeding has simply rewarded the plants that made the most grain, without asking why they were better. That means a major source of grains, photosynthesis—the way plants' solar engines effectively use sunlight—has been overlooked. We set out to see whether modern corn hybrids already differ in how efficiently they turn light into growth, and whether those differences could guide future breeding. In a New York field, we grew eight widely used hybrids and used a fast, non-destructive fluorescence observation to measure two aspects: how their photosynthesis kept running under bright sunlight, and how they dumped surplus energy to avoid damage. The hybrids varied a lot in both abilities, and those contrasts were not just because some plants had more leaves or held them more upright. By feeding the measurements to a computer simulation, we demonstrated that these variations in photosynthesis can translate into substantial differences in grain and growth in crop fields. In short, this study is a critical breakthrough because it gives breeders a practical new handle to select hybrids with superior photosynthetic efficiency, opening a pathway to develop more productive corn beyond today’s plateaus and future food security.
Scientific DisciplineNeighborhoodType
Enter Note
Go to previous page in this tab
Session
