Yield-boosting stay-green gene identified from 118-year-old experiment in corn
(PHYSorg.com Biology)

A corn gene identified from a 118-year-old experiment at the University of Illinois could boost yields of today`s elite hybrids with no added inputs. The gene, identified in a recent Plant Biotechnology Journal study, controls a critical piece of senescence, or seasonal die-back, in corn. When the gene is turned off, field-grown elite hybrids yielded 4.6 bushels more per acre on average than standard plants.