Biotech Updates

Purdue Scientists Working to Make Drought-Resistant Crops

July 20, 2012

With vast areas of the United States afflicted by drought this year, five Purdue scientists are attempting to find ways to develop crops that are drought-tolerant and achieve water-use efficiency to combat hot and dry conditions.

Ongoing research projects to this end include:

  • Identifying genes that will enhance adaptability of temperate maize
  • Finding variations in genes that affect the ability of a plant to use water as efficiently as possible
  • Evaluating the performance of drought-tolerant corn hybrids developed by the private sector with that of conventional hybrid with focus on optimum management practices
  • Improvement of Striga-resistant sorghum that can tolerate drought condition

More information about the research projects is available at Purdue Extension's website at http://www.purdue.edu/drought For detailed information about the projects, see the news at http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2012/120718TuinstraResearch.html