Major research project aims to develop lodging resistant corn for more reliable harvests
According to researchers at Clemson University, a new national research project is focused on developing stronger corn plants that are less likely to bend or break before harvest, a problem that costs farmers billions of dollars each year.
Stalk lodging occurs when mature corn plants bend, break or fall before harvest. This can happen because of strong winds, storms, or other environmental stresses. When plants fall over, harvesting becomes difficult, yield losses increase, and crop quality can decline. Researchers estimate that stalk lodging causes billions of dollars in crop losses around the world every year.
To address this challenge, a team of researchers from several U.S. universities has launched a four-year study focused on understanding what makes some corn plants stronger than others. The project combines expertise in plant genetics, biology, engineering, statistics, and artificial intelligence.
The researchers aim to identify the genetic and biological factors responsible for stalk strength. Their goal is to help plant breeders develop corn hybrids that are less likely to fall over before harvesting.
“It’s almost like reverse engineering the strong plant versus the weak plant back to the DNA, so we can identify the genetic and biological factors that allow a plant to remain standing,” said Sekhon, an associate professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry.
A key part of the study involves tracing plant traits from DNA through several biological levels. Scientists will investigate how genetic differences affect plant chemistry, cell structure, stalk composition, and overall mechanical strength.
Researchers believe stalk strength is influenced by many factors working together rather than by a single gene. Understanding these interactions could provide valuable information for future breeding programs.
As part of the project, approximately 1,000 corn inbred lines will be grown and evaluated in field trials. Scientists will compare varieties with strong and weak lodging histories to determine the characteristics linked to stronger stalks.
“Here we have an entire spectrum of things that can occur,” said Christopher McMahan, professor and assistant director for graduate studies at the Clemson University School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. “We’re trying to understand what’s causing that difference.”
The research team will measure several important traits, including stalk strength, stiffness, diameter, and rind thickness. They will also examine cell structures and monitor how stalk chemistry changes as plants grow and mature.
Advanced metabolomics and cell-wall chemistry studies will help scientists better understand how a plant's internal materials contribute to its ability to remain upright. Researchers say both plant design and the strength of its biological materials play important roles in resisting breakage.
Artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools will also be used to analyze large amounts of data collected during the project. These technologies will help researchers identify genetic markers that have the greatest impact on stalk strength.
Another important aspect of the study is the development of automated sensing systems. Researchers hope future technologies can collect stalk-strength measurements during normal harvesting operations. This would allow scientists and breeders to evaluate far more plants than traditional testing methods.
The project is expected to generate a large database linking genetics, plant biology, and physical performance. This information could provide breeders with practical tools to accelerate the development of stronger corn varieties.
Researchers ultimately hope to identify around 500 validated genetic markers associated with lodging resistance. These markers could be used to select plants with improved stalk strength during breeding programs.
While the project focuses on corn, the approach could also benefit from research on other crops. Scientists believe the methods developed during the study may help investigate complex agricultural traits in a wide range of plant species.
For farmers, stronger stalks could mean fewer harvest losses, improved crop quality, and more dependable yields. In an industry where weather-related risks continue to grow, lodging-resistant crops could play an important role in supporting long-term food production and farm profitability.
The researchers say the project demonstrates the value of collaboration across multiple scientific disciplines. By combining genetics, biology, engineering, and data science, they hope to deliver solutions that benefit both crop breeders and producers.
If successful, the findings could help create stronger, more resilient corn varieties capable of withstanding environmental stress while maintaining high yields. This could provide farmers with more reliable harvests and contribute to a stronger food supply for the future.
Photo Credit: getty-images-alinamd