Des Moines, Iowa
February 19, 2009
Building stronger roots, stalks
for higher yields
DuPont today unveiled the
latest innovation to increase agricultural productivity - mobile
wind machines that test the ability of higher-yielding
experimental corn hybrids to withstand violent windstorms that
cause significant standability issues and subsequent yield loss.
Nicknamed Boreas - a name inspired by the Greek god of the cold
north wind - this new innovation challenges DuPont business
Pioneer Hi-Bred corn
research trials to help scientists improve the standability of
Pioneer corn hybrids by producing turbulent winds exceeding 100
miles per hour. These 20-ton mobile wind machines are the newest
tool in the company's Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT™) system
toolbox and a critical component of the Pioneer commitment to
increase corn yields 40 percent within the next nine years.
"Pioneer researchers can't always rely on Mother Nature to
deliver the severe weather they need at the exact location of
our research trials to test for the stresses our customers
face," said Geoff Graham, Pioneer senior research director. "We
created machines to bring the 'storm of the decade' to our
research fields across the country each season to identify
hybrids with the best standability in the most difficult growing
conditions."
Standability is one of the biggest challenges farmers face as
more seeds are planted to each acre. Approximately 20 percent to
30 percent of the corn acres in North America can be impacted by
root lodging, stalk lodging or brittle snap each year. Root
lodging occurs when environmental forces exceed the ability of
the root system to support the plant, causing the entire
cornstalk to lean or fall. Stalk lodging is the breakage of
cornstalks below the ear. Brittle snap refers to breakage of
cornstalks by violent winds, usually during periods of fast
growth.
Pioneer plant breeders are constantly challenged to develop
higher-yielding plants with a stalk and root structure that can
withstand violent storms when planted at higher populations.
Pioneer is utilizing Boreas to improve corn standability as it
pushes corn yields and plant populations even higher.
Prior to Boreas, researchers depended on natural storm events
and mechanical "push" tests, which used a bar or other
instrument to physically push the corn to simulate damage due to
high winds. Boreas represents a revolutionary transformation in
how Pioneer plant researchers approach field research studies
for standability traits by imitating the variety and intensity
of winds that occur during violent storms.
"We are going to extraordinary measures to help our customers
achieve industry-leading yields in the face of unpredictable and
extreme growing conditions, including severe thunderstorms,"
said Graham. "This is one of the ways we will more than double
the annual rate of corn yield gain between now and 2018."
Pioneer scientists began using Boreas five years ago, but have
kept the technology under wraps until patents were filed. Today,
Pioneer scientists are using multiple trait-specific,
high-throughput machines to screen for root lodging, stalk
lodging and brittle snap. Testing is conducted across multiple
environments and developmental stages throughout North America
and compared with natural weather events to ensure the viability
and predictability of the data.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading
source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers
and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des
Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics
in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded
in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable
solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for
people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for
markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM, The miracles of scienceTM,
Pioneer® and Accelerated Yield TechnologyTM are registered
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