Development of extremely short season maize

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The next frontier for corn breeding in North America is the shorter season growing environments of Canada, specifically Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of Ontario. Hybrids specifically developed for these environments are extremely limited, retarding the expansion of corn acreage in these regions. This proposal represents the collaborative efforts of the sole University corn breeder in Canada, the largest Canadian-owned seed corn company (Maizex Seeds Inc.), and DLF Pickseed which until recently was a Canadian-owned company specializing in forages and turf for Eastern and Western Canada. Collectively our aim is to develop inbred parents and hybrid combinations that are designed for the unique extremely short season environments of Manitoba, Ontario and the other Western Provinces. Beyond the development of inbred lines and hybrids, our research focuses on 3 key questions, which will greatly facilitate future breeding efforts. (1) What features of the environment and of the corn plant limit productivity and increase risk of crop failure? (2) What are the ideal characteristics of a successful corn hybrid in these extremely short season environments? (3) How are these ideal characteristics inherited? Finally, this highly collaborative proposal creates a unique opportunity for both undergrad and graduate students to acquire hands-on experience working side-by-side with commercial corn breeders and product managers.