On June 12, Corteva announced a new publication that confirmed the natural movement of disease-resistance genes within corn’s genome in a release. The research has implications for applications for new breeding techniques to reduce the impact of plant disease while improving yield potential and crop resilience.
The findings state that gene editing tools, such as CRISPR, can mimic the naturally occurring movement of disease resistance genes — which means unlocking the ability to relocate multiple disease resistance genes. That implication could speed up the plant breeding process and deliver advanced products to farmers.
“A plant deals with a wide variety of pathogens, prompting its genes to naturally move around in the genome to resist disease and increase survivability,” said Wendy Srnic, vice president of biotechnology at Corteva Agriscience, in the release. “However, this natural gene mobility occurs too slowly to effectively address the rapid growth of disease and climate-related pressures facing farmers around the globe. Through our research, we have validated the ability to mirror the movement of genes, enabling us to apply new breeding techniques to deliver seed that can better withstand field-level challenges.”
As an example, Corteva notes that in 2021, diseases such as Northern leaf blight, Southern rust, gray leaf spot and anthracnose stalk rot combined cost North American growers more than 318 million bushels in production. This new discovery means researchers and breeders can simplify disease management options for farmers and improve on-farm sustainability by reducing the need for additional crop protection.
“By innovating with advanced breeding techniques, we aim to create transformational change,” added Srnic. “With these techniques, we can harness and replicate naturally occurring processes that accelerate the development of seeds with improved resilience and yield. We are committed to giving farmers more planting choices while continuing to safeguard our natural resources for generations to come.”
