WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University has been granted access to DuPont Pioneer’s proprietary phenotyping and ear photometry technology as part of an innovative research collaboration.
DuPont will also sponsor the Henry Wallace Chair in Plant Sciences in the Purdue University College of Agriculture.
Research
The technology from Pioneer will advance research at Purdue’s Indiana Corn and Soybean Innovation Center.
Phenotyping is the process of learning how the genetic makeup of a plant adapts and reacts to the environment to produce complex traits such as growth, tolerance and yield.
Ear photometry technology, which quantifies yield on a single ear of corn, enables researchers to identify which key ear traits — such as ear size or number of kernels — affect overall performance.
“In Indiana, we plant more than 5 million acres of corn per year and research to understand how the environment impacts yield is critical to our farmers,” said Karen Plaut, senior associate dean for research and faculty affairs and director of agricultural research, Purdue University.
Endowed chair
The endowed chair recognizes Henry A. Wallace, who in 1926 founded the Pioneer Hi-Bred Corn Company, now DuPont Pioneer. Wallace also served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1933-1940 and as vice president of the United States from 1941-1945.
The Henry A. Wallace Chair will support a faculty member who applies modern technology to plant breeding and will oversee research conducted by students, faculty, staff and industry professionals at the Indiana Corn and Soybean Innovation Center.
