New DuPont laser technology speeds development of higher-yielding corn and soybeans

September 16, 2008--DuPont company Pioneer Hi-Bred (Des Moines, IA) unveiled an advanced technology that will transform seed research and is anticipated to increase yield of Pioneer's corn hybrids and soybean varieties by 40% in 10 years. Pioneer Hi-Bred introduced Laser-Assisted Seed Selection, a process that uses a 120 W CO2 laser to score a small slice from a seed to capture its genetic information while maintaining the seed's viability for planting.

Pioneer has numerous patents pending for the technology and will be using it on millions of corn and soybean seeds by the end of 2009. Laser-Assisted Seed Selection is a collection of proprietary processes that includes precise magnetic-based orientation of the seed, laser scoring, seed and slice collection, advanced seed selection and planting.

The development of molecular breeding techniques allowed scientists to evaluate plants based on their genes as well as phenotypic characteristics, but genetic samples had to be captured from green plant tissue in the field. Scientists recently discovered they could gather genetic samples from seeds prior to planting, but the methods of collection with a blade or clipper were rudimentary. Laser-Assisted Seed Selection perfects the technique because it eliminates contamination, ensures seed viability and has much higher throughput than other kernel chipping or clipping methods. Laser-Assisted Seed Selection equipment is also compact and mobile, allowing Pioneer to deploy the technology at research stations around the world.

For more information, visit www.pioneer.com.