A research team led by Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Assistant Professor Dior Kelley and Craig Cowling, a doctoral student in the Kelley lab, has identified that a widely found gene in plants is a key transporter of a hormone that influences the size of corn. The discovery offers plant breeders a new tool to develop desirable dwarf varieties that could enhance the crop’s resilience and profitability. The findings were published in the May 28 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The publication’s cover features an illustration by Kelley’s mother and Cowling.

Read the article by Whitney Baxter, "Scientists identify gene that could lead to resilient 'pixie' corn," on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website.