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Comparison between a hybrid with the Anthracnose stalk rot resistance trait (left) next to a hybrid susceptible to the disease. Photo from Pioneer Hi-Bred

The University of Delaware announced today that it has reached a commercial agreement with DuPont regarding their multi-year, corn disease resistance research collaboration. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

DuPont seed business Pioneer Hi-Bred now is marketing Pioneer® brand hybrid 34F26, the first corn hybrid in North America to carry the trait, which provides enhanced resistance to anthracnose stalk rot. Additional hybrids carrying the trait are being evaluated for 2010.

“We're thrilled to see the discoveries of University of Delaware (UD) scientists being put to work for farmers through our collaboration with DuPont,” said Patrick Harker, University of Delaware president.

James A. Hawk, UD professor of plant and soil sciences, became familiar in the 1980s with a gene in corn known to provide resistance to the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola, which causes the often devastating disease anthracnose stalk rot (ASR). At the time the gene was found only in a “tropical” corn line from Mississippi, which could not be used commercially.

Hawk worked for more than 20 years to demonstrate that the gene could be bred into commercial germplasm and developed “near-isogenic lines” that facilitated the genetic characterization of ASR resistance. He and his associates then teamed up with DuPont scientists and cutting-edge technology was used to “fine map” the gene and develop molecular markers under a Collaborative Research Agreement between DuPont and the University. DuPont scientists are using those markers in high throughput genetic technology to move the gene into a wide variety of elite commercial germplasm. Intellectual property protection is pending on the discoveries of the collaboration and the corn lines developed by Hawk.

“Bringing additional disease resistance to our customers is part of our overall strategy to increase their productivity,” said Paul E. Schickler, president -- Pioneer and vice president and general manager -- DuPont.

The increased incidence of anthracnose stalk rot is thought to be associated with increased use of no-till agricultural practices that are utilized to reduce soil erosion and fuel costs. Higher risk of the disease also is associated with corn planted in fields that had corn the previous year because the pathogen over-winters in corn residue. Yield losses due to the disease, estimated to be about $1billion annually in North America are the result of reduced ear size, premature plant death and stalk breakage of the plant below the ear, all of which decrease harvestable yield.

Corn without resistance to the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola can be attacked by the devastating disease anthracnose stalk rot. Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

Anthracnose stalk rot typically rots corn stalks from the bottom, causing the stalks to break over or ears to fall off completely, making harvest much more difficult. The disease also can kill the plant from the top down, a trait called top dieback, which results in premature plant death and reduced yields.

The technology developed by UD and DuPont adds to the arsenal of tools farmers can use to combat this disease and protect corn yields. A portion of the royalties to the University from sales of the ASR resistant hybrid will be reinvested in support of continuing research at UD.

® Registered trademark of Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Tracing its heritage back to 1743, the University of Delaware is a state-assisted, privately controlled institution of higher education with an enrollment of more than 16,000 undergraduates, 3,500 graduate students and 1,000 professional and continuing students. UD offers degrees in a broad range of disciplines across seven colleges, and is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant and urban-grant institution.

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