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Improving hybrid seed production in corn with glyphosate‐mediated male sterility
Author(s) -
Feng Paul C C,
Qi Youlin,
Chiu Tommy,
Stoecker Martin A,
Schuster Christopher L,
Johnson Scott C,
Fonseca Augustine E,
Huang Jintai
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.3526
Subject(s) - glyphosate , sterility , hybrid seed , biology , agronomy , production (economics) , microbiology and biotechnology , hybrid , botany , economics , macroeconomics
BACKGROUND Hybrid corn varieties exhibit benefits associated with heterosis and account for most of the corn acreage in the USA . Hybrid seed corn is produced by crossing a female parent which is male‐sterile and therefore incapable of self‐pollination with a male parent as the pollen donor. The majority of hybrid seed corn is produced by mechanical detasseling which involves physically removing the tassel, a process that is laborious and costly.RESULTS Glyphosate‐resistant corn was developed via expression of a glyphosate insensitive 5‐enolpyruvyl‐shikimate 3‐phosphate synthase enzyme ( CP4‐EPSPS ). Experimentation with molecular expression elements resulted in selective reduction of CP4‐EPSPS expression in male reproductive tissues. The resulting plant demonstrated sterile tassel following glyphosate application with little to no injury to the rest of the plant. Using 14 C ‐glyphosate as a marker, we also examined the translocation of glyphosate to the tassel via spray application in a track sprayer to simulate field application. The results allowed optimization of spray parameters such as dose, spray timing and target to maximize tassel delivery of glyphosate for efficient sterilization.CONCLUSION The Roundup hybridization system ( RHS ) is a novel process for hybrid seed production based on glyphosate‐mediated male sterility. RHS replaces mechanical detasseling with glyphosate spray and greatly simplifies the process of hybrid seed corn production. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry