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NEWS RELEASE
Developing Weed Resistance in Corn Hybrids
MADISON, WI, MARCH 15, 2010 -- Millions of people in the savannas of west and central Africa rely on maize (corn) as a staple crop, and as an “insurance” food crop at the beginning of the rainy season. A destructive parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica, poses a threat to this valuable crop. Almost 64% of cropland in this area of Africa is affected by the parasite, which causes an average grain yield loss of 68%. Farmers in Striga-infested areas have not yet adopted Striga-resistant hybrids.
Crop Scienceis the flagship journal of the Crop Science Society of America. It is a top international journal in the fields of crop breeding and genetics, crop physiology, and crop production. The journal is a critical outlet for articles describing plant germplasm collections and their use.