U.S. scientists say they are studying a giant perennial grass used as a biofuels source that might contain the secret to extending the corn growing season.
University of Illinois scientists studying Miscanthus x giganteus say their findings offer a promising avenue for developing cold-tolerant corn, thereby significantly boosting per-acre yields.
Miscanthus x giganteus is one of the most productive grasses, the researchers said, noting the grass is able to capture the sun's energy even as cool conditions shut down photosynthesis in other plants. In Illinois, green Miscanthus leaves emerge up to six weeks before corn can be planted and the grass thrives into October, while corn leaves wither in late August.
Professor Stephen Long, the study's principal investigator, said the next step is to develop a corn plant that mimics the grass and is more tolerant of colder weather conditions.
The research by Long, post-doctoral fellow Dafu Wang and colleagues appears in the journal Plant Physiology Preview.
