Exploring Native Genetic Variation for Improving Drought Tolerance and Water Use Efficiency in Corn.

Water is the key limiting factor for crop production virtually in all crops worldwide. Developing and using drought-tolerant corn hybrids is critical to sustain corn production in the Texas High Plains and many parts of the world.  Drought tolerance in crop plants is a complex trait.  We will report the progress in exploring native genes to develop drought tolerant corn lines and hybrids in managed drought stress environments in the field in West Texas, and the relationship of  fielf performance with water use efficiency and root characters.