Corn Breeding and Genetics


Breeding Home Page		Corn Improvement
Corn 2009 State Trials 2009 NDSU Southern Region Combined 2009 Forman 2009 Colfax 2009 Barney 2009 NDSU Central Region Combined 2009 Prosper 2009 Casselton 2009 NDSU Northern Region Combined 2009 Lakota 2009 Larimore 2009 Thompson 2010 Corn Hybrid Trials Application Older data Breeding History in ND Corn Production Corn Project Leader Publications Research Teaching Corn Project Staff Graduate Students Objectives Breeding Methods Germplasm Adaptation Pedigree Selection Population Hybrids Recurrent Selection Corn Inbred Lines Inbred Releases Population Releases PVP Older releases NDSU corn releases after 1979		Corn at Williston ND North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Plant Breeding NDSU has a unique national plant breeding and genetics research and training expertise providing a unique center for plant breeding research, education, and training. Genetic improvement, as a consequence of plant breeding is the main reason North Dakota (ND) crop production agriculture generates more than $4 billion in cash receipts today. The availability of genetically enhanced diverse products through plant breeding and biotechnology has been essential to maintain the largest sector of ND economy. Public plant breeding efforts have the potential to impact both traditional agriculture and local communities as well through breeding for local adaptation The Importance of Corn Breeding and Genetics The improvement of corn for food, feed, fiber, and fuel can be done in several ways. For instance, the farmer can increase the yield and starch of corn hybrids by improving his/her management strategies for fertilization, irrigation, plant population, seeding method, weed control, etc. However, even though the corn producer can achieve ideal management conditions the most limiting factor for improving traits (especially complex ones) is the genetics available in the seed (e.g. the type of hybrid purchased). All of the research conducted in the U.S. agrees that at least 60-70% of the improvement that can be made in a hybrid is due to genetics while 30-40% is the maximum improvement that can be made by an effective usage of management inputs. As seen in Figure 1 below the average U.S. corn grain yield has increased from 20-30 Bu/A to 120 to 130 Bu/A, an average increased of 100 Bu/A over the years. If 70% of the increased was due to genetics it means that 70 Bu/A was the consequence of breeding and genetics research on inbred line and hybrid development which has demonstrated to be the best investment for increasing corn yields. Crosbie and Lamkey (1999) conducted a pre-biotech retrospective look at corn genetic improvement (1865-1996) evaluated the value and cost of public corn breeding during that period. The assumption (as described above) was that 2/3 of the actual gains were due to genetic improvement. A macro-analysis of corn breeding costs and benefits was performed for the U.S. based on 1994 dollars across 27 public breeding programs. Results showed that $3 billion were invested while $260 billion were the return as a consequence of applied corn breeding. The impact of public corn breeding programs continues to be very large even though confidentiality does not clearly show it. However, there has been a very serious erosion of corn breeding programs at universities during the past 10 years with much less than 5% of the U.S. corn breeders being public. More than any other crop, a critical mass of corn breeders is essential to meet the future demands for increased crop productivity and value. Plant breeding should continue to become a priority across state leadership and federal granting agencies.

Corn Improvement

Corn
2009 State Trials
   2009 NDSU Southern Region Combined
   2009 Forman
   2009 Colfax
   2009 Barney
   2009 NDSU Central Region Combined
   2009 Prosper
   2009 Casselton
   2009 NDSU Northern Region Combined
   2009 Lakota
   2009 Larimore
   2009 Thompson

   2010 Corn Hybrid Trials Application

Older data
Breeding History in ND
Corn Production
Corn Project Leader
   Publications
   Research
   Teaching
Corn Project Staff
Graduate Students
Objectives
Breeding Methods
   Germplasm Adaptation
   Pedigree Selection
   Population Hybrids
   Recurrent Selection
Corn Inbred Lines
   Inbred Releases
   Population Releases
   PVP
   Older releases
   NDSU corn releases after 1979

Corn at Williston ND

North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Plant Breeding

NDSU has a unique national plant breeding and genetics research and training expertise providing a unique center for plant breeding research, education, and training. Genetic improvement, as a consequence of plant breeding is the main reason North Dakota (ND) crop production agriculture generates more than $4 billion in cash receipts today. The availability of genetically enhanced diverse products through plant breeding and biotechnology has been essential to maintain the largest sector of ND economy. Public plant breeding efforts have the potential to impact both traditional agriculture and local communities as well through breeding for local adaptation

The Importance of Corn Breeding and Genetics

The improvement of corn for food, feed, fiber, and fuel can be done in several ways. For instance, the farmer can increase the yield and starch of corn hybrids by improving his/her management strategies for fertilization, irrigation, plant population, seeding method, weed control, etc. However, even though the corn producer can achieve ideal management conditions the most limiting factor for improving traits (especially complex ones) is the genetics available in the seed (e.g. the type of hybrid purchased). All of the research conducted in the U.S. agrees that at least 60-70% of the improvement that can be made in a hybrid is due to genetics while 30-40% is the maximum improvement that can be made by an effective usage of management inputs. As seen in Figure 1 below the average U.S. corn grain yield has increased from 20-30 Bu/A to 120 to 130 Bu/A, an average increased of 100 Bu/A over the years. If 70% of the increased was due to genetics it means that 70 Bu/A was the consequence of breeding and genetics research on inbred line and hybrid development which has demonstrated to be the best investment for increasing corn yields.

US Corn Yields and Cultivar Types, 1866 to 1996 chart

Crosbie and Lamkey (1999) conducted a pre-biotech retrospective look at corn genetic improvement (1865-1996) evaluated the value and cost of public corn breeding during that period. The assumption (as described above) was that 2/3 of the actual gains were due to genetic improvement. A macro-analysis of corn breeding costs and benefits was performed for the U.S. based on 1994 dollars across 27 public breeding programs. Results showed that $3 billion were invested while $260 billion were the return as a consequence of applied corn breeding. The impact of public corn breeding programs continues to be very large even though confidentiality does not clearly show it. However, there has been a very serious erosion of corn breeding programs at universities during the past 10 years with much less than 5% of the U.S. corn breeders being public. More than any other crop, a critical mass of corn breeders is essential to meet the future demands for increased crop productivity and value. Plant breeding should continue to become a priority across state leadership and federal granting agencies.