Life Sciences Commons^™

Varying Weed Densities Alter The Corn Transcriptome, Highlighting A Core Set Of Weed-Induced Genes And Processes With Potential For Manipulating Weed Tolerance, David P. Horvath, Sharon A. Clay, Stephanie A. Bruggeman, James V. Anderson, Wun S. Chao, Kathleen Yeater

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

The phenological responses of corn (Zea mays L.) to competition with increasing densities of winter canola (Brassica napus L.) as the weedy competitor were investigated. Changes in the corn transcriptome resulting from varying weed densities were used to identify genes and processes responsive to competition under controlled conditions where light, nutrients, and water were not limited. Increasing densities of weeds resulted in decreased corn growth and development and increased the number and expression intensity of competition-responsive genes. The physiological processes identified in corn that were consistently induced by competition with weeds included protein synthesis and various transport functions. …