Research Summary

Altered weather conditions will be a major challenge for the maize production industry, as rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are not easy to manage for a crop that relies on human intervention and has a high demand for nutrients. However, there are many traits encoded in the genetic diversity of maize that have been developed and selected for over thousands of years and have been preserved by farmers as landraces or maize heirlooms. These heirlooms are potential sources of genetic variability for better adaptation to our changing climate and varied soils, and as a versatile crop that contributes to food security worldwide, it is a source of nutrients, unique flavors, and aromas. Therefore, as part of the Flint-Garcia Lab, the goal of my current and future research is to contribute to this effort, by reducing the nitrogen content of the grain by reducing protein biosynthesis, which will reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied and reduce the nitrogen content in animal waste, and by developing Missouri-adapted maize with nutritional value, anthocyanins and flavonoids, flavor, and aroma.