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A maize gene that coordinates flowering aids drought resistance

Nature Wednesday 03 June 2026, 00:00 UTC 1 min read
Key Points

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01745-9The synchronous flowering of male and female flower clusters in maize is crucial, but drought disrupts this synchrony, leading to considerable yield losses. A gene called SAUR72 is shown to preserve flowering synchrony in drought conditions, offering a potential strategy for breeding drought-resilient maize varieties.

Nature, Published online: 03 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01745-9

The synchronous flowering of male and female flower clusters in maize is crucial, but drought disrupts this synchrony, leading to considerable yield losses. A gene called SAUR72 is shown to preserve flowering synchrony in drought conditions, offering a potential strategy for breeding drought-resilient maize varieties.
doi:10.1038 (ORG) SAUR72 (PERSON)
Originally published by Nature Read original →

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