CRISPR Boosts the Starch Properties of Maize

Jul 31, 2024

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and partners used CRISPR to enhance the starch properties of maize.

Maize is an essential crop that is consumed by people around the world. The starch qualities of maize are influenced by amylose content (AC), which is positively correlated with resistant starch content (RSC). Resistant starch improves health, which causes maize with high amylose content to have a higher value.

Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to boost AC and RSC content in maize. The team produced mutants of starch branching enzyme I (SBEI) and starch branching enzyme IIb (SBEIIb) and analyzed the apparent amylose content (AAC) and RSC of the mutated plants.

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.