b'traits relating to disease resistance, nutrient efficiency and grain composition. Yet the legal perspectives on gene editing are not clear at all, he says. A very strict regu-lation and high requirement of traceability (impossible detection) will further increase our problems of access to new germplasm.Despite the risks surrounding the reg-ulation of new tools, companies like Corteva are ploughing ahead. Corteva now has many active collaborations with public breeding research institutions where scientists are using the technology to improve disease resistance in corn. This includes resistance to maize lethal necrosis in tropical corn and in temperate hybrids, resistance to northern corn leaf blight, southern rust, grey leaf spot "Starting plants" in culture cabinets. Photo: Limagrain and anthracnose stalk rot. CORN IN 2045tools to measure phenotypic traits. HeffnerAt Lidea, genomic selection and highIn Knczls view, corn hybrids marketed says their corn breeding success is due to athroughput phenotyping have boosted thein 20 years will differ greatly from todays combination of investment in these technol- selection efficiency in corn breeding.corn. They will probably be shorter, he says, ogies and utilizing them in an integrated way.However, Camp notes that whilstwith higher yield potential and better stress Limagrain is also using many newgenomic prediction and genomic selectiontolerance. Returning to the use of data tools extensively to speed up and innovateare certainly powerful tools to increase theanalytics, he adds that, hopefully we will corn breeding, including genomic selec- selection intensity and speed up the testinghave much more accurate information about tion, rapid cycling, double haploids andprocess, the decision to invest and the ben- [new hybrids] before they come to market, gene editing. This has led, for example, toefits from investments depend on the sizeand they will meet the needs of the farmers the development of specific mid-maturityand cost structure of the breeding program.much more accurately.corn genetics for central and eastern EuropeIn corn specifically, he explains that ifCamp agrees that corn plants in the with very good tolerance to heat stress andcompanies invest in gene editing, this mayfuture will likely be shorter and have better drought. allow the creation of some very interestingdrought tolerance. He expects less leaf bio-20ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | NOVEMBER 2024'