Enhancing Inbred Corn with Genetic Expression Traits: Yield and Stand Establishment Breakthroughs
In 2023, our team conducted extensive field trials across 12 states, planting over 2,000 plots of inbred corn, hybrid corn, and soybeans. Seed activated with Genetic Expression Traits™ upregulate agronomic performance, showing remarkable improvements in stand establishment, yield, plant composition, and other key factors driving grower profitability.
Activation of Genetic Expression Traits
Our scientists harness biological insights, agronomic data, and artificial intelligence-driven algorithms to select optimal candidates from billions of potential light recipe combinations. These candidate light recipes are then rigorously trialed on commercial cultivars and parent lines provided by our seed company partners under various growing conditions and throughout all stages of plant development.
2023 Inbred Corn Field Trial Results
The 2023 program focused on enhancing the productivity and profitability of inbred corn by mitigating the agronomic impact of inbreeding depression, thereby improving hybrid seed production.
Inbred corn lines with the stand establishment and yield trait package demonstrated a +7.3% yield gain (+4.6 bu/ac) without any changes to the grower’s standard practice. These substantial improvements in inbred uniformity and yield were driven by enhanced early-season germination resulting in a 5% plant population advantage, and increased seedling vigor evidenced by a 16% average advantage in root biomass.
Given that inbred corn typically suffers from slow growth, poor vigor, and low yields due to inbreeding depression, these productivity gains are crucial for seed producers.
Cross-Generational Inheritance
Additionally, we have produced evidence supporting the cross-generational inheritance of Genetic Expression Seed Traits. These findings have paved the way for our 2024 focus: locking in Genetic Expression Traits across generations so that the hybrid progeny of treated inbred parents inherently carry these activated traits.
This advancement represents a 100x to 200x scale improvement, accelerating the availability of traits for stand establishment, composition (e.g. higher lipid content), growth efficiency, and yield.
Benefits of Genetic Expression Traits
Fast and Cost-Effective: With no regulatory barriers, the development of Genetic Expression Traits™ is both quick and inexpensive compared to traditional biotech techniques.
Innovative: Utilizing light signaling, these traits activate the plant's natural biology with multiple modes of action, offering a novel approach to trait enhancement.
Extensible: These traits are stackable with genetic modification and gene editing technologies, providing flexibility and enhancing their utility.
Accessible: By enabling functionality for underserved crops such as rice, wheat, and forage, and supporting smallholder farmers, these traits enhance agricultural accessibility and equity.
Sustainable: Clean and green, Genetic Expression Traits™ do not require the use of additional chemicals, promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
