Nebraska scientists develop largest corn metabolic model

By Scout Nelson

In a significant advancement in agricultural science, a team from Nebraska, led by Rajib Saha, has created the largest-ever metabolic model of corn. This research, an expansion of their previous work on corn roots, now encompasses the whole plant, offering a more comprehensive view of how corn responds to various stressors, particularly temperature stress.

The model is based on the corn hybrid B73, known for its widespread use in food, feed, and industry. Developed in the 1970s at Iowa State University, this strain has a significant presence in global hybrid corn production.

"It’s estimated that temperature stress resulting from climate change can reduce corn productivity by 7% to 18%," Saha highlighted, underlining the urgency of the research. The model helps understand how temperature fluctuations, especially excessive heat, create metabolic bottlenecks that slow down plant growth. This understanding is critical as rising temperatures continue to challenge crop growth globally.

In an innovative approach, the research team explored the use of the beneficial fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. This fungus, typically used as a soil inoculant, showed promise in reducing temperature-induced stress in corn. The team's findings revealed that inoculation with R. irregularis improved both whole plant and organ-specific biomass growth rates under stress conditions.

Saha's team has positioned this model as a powerful tool for future research, particularly in understanding how R. irregularis affects plant metabolism under various nitrogen conditions. It's a testament to the collaborative efforts of scientists from multiple institutions, including Iowa State and Pennsylvania State universities, and several French research institutes.

This groundbreaking work, funded by the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy, is detailed in an article in iScience, marking a significant step forward in understanding and improving agricultural resilience in the face of climate challenges.

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