DuPont Develops Corn Hybrids To Battle Dry Conditions

Posted by Matt Hopkins|10 January 2011

DES MOINES, Iowa, United States– DuPont has introduced a new generation of corn hybrids that were developed to combat drought and water-limited conditions. These hybrids will be offered to growers under the Optimum AQUAmax brand name through DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred.

These hybrids, introduced for planting in 2011, contain a collection of native corn traits that improve water access and utilization and deliver greater yields in water-limited conditions, according to DuPont.

While the 2011 launch size is limited and primarily targeted in the western Corn Belt, the technology advancement is an important milestone toward the longer-term objective of bringing breeding and biotechnology solutions to drought-prone environments, according to the company.

Optimum AQUAmax hybrids are developed through Pioneer’s proprietary Accelerated Yield Technology (AYT) system. This is a suite of tools, including molecular breeding techniques, which allow research to rapidly scan and identify genes responsible for increasing yields and other beneficial traits, according to DuPont.

“Drought is a complex issue and can affect crops differently depending on the geography and stress factors of each environment,” said Paul E. Schickler, president , Pioneer Hi-Bred in a prepared statement. “There is no single gene or ‘silver bullet’ solution for the drought complex. Managing crops in drought-stressed environments is critically important to achieving performance results.”