Key genes for corn architecture revealed, identifying future breeding targets

The physical structure of corn plants—including the angle of leaves bending from the stem and the number of pollen-laden tassel branches—makes a big difference for yield. Compact plants can be planted closer together, adding up to more ears per acre. But compact corn didn't happen by accident; years of hybrid breeding did that. Now, two new genome-based studies are making it possible to precisely adjust corn architecture to meet future demands.