Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The molecular mechanisms that control genetic modifications in specific tissues during plant development are the focus of a National Science Foundation grant for $1.2 million to Surinder Chopra, associate professor of maize genetics in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. (more)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A new invasive pest recently found in Pennsylvania could mean serious losses to corn growers in the state.
Western bean cutworm (WBC) was first trapped in July 2009 in Erie and Lycoming counties and has also been found recently in low numbers in Forest, Clarion, Washington, Franklin, and Tioga counties, said John Tooker, assistant professor of entomology at Penn State. "WBC has historically been a pest of corn and dry beans in Great Plains states, but in recent years it has been expanding its range eastward for some unknown reason. This is the first time we've captured WBC in Pennsylvania." (more)
Friday, May 02, 2008
Farmers across the country are expected to plant 8 percent fewer acres in corn this year than last, but Pennsylvania farmers will plant 1 percent more corn than last year, according to a crops expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Nationwide, corn growers intend to plant 86 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2008, notes Greg Roth, professor of agronomy. Despite the decrease, corn acreage will remain at a historically high level as the corn price outlook remains strong, due in part to the continued expansion in ethanol production. Last year's corn acreage was the highest since 1944. (more)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Jonathan Lynch has made a name for himself doing ground-breaking (pun intended) research on the roots of bean and soybean plants in an effort to improve crop yields in places such as Africa, Asia and Latin America. The professor of plant nutrition in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has worked with colleagues in China, Africa and Latin America to develop bean and soybean varieties with better root systems that produce better yields in low-phosphorus soils -- work that has major implications for the developing world. (more)
