Fighting World Hunger: Researchers Use Nuclear Methods to Study Pest Resistance in Corn Plants
Expertise, resources found at Mizzou allow researchers to study pest-resistance in corn that could help sustain projected 9 billion global population
COLUMBIA, Mo. – According to estimates, the current global population is more than 7.4 billion people and is growing at a rate of 88 million people per year. Developing corn varieties that are resistant to pests is vital to sustain the estimated 9 billion global population by 2050. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri, using advanced nuclear methods, have determined the mechanisms corn plants use to combat the western corn rootworm, a major pest threatening the growth of the vital food source. Scientists believe that using the knowledge gained from these cutting-edge studies could help crop breeders in developing new resistant lines of corn and make significant strides toward solving global food shortages. (more…)