A carotenogenic mini-pathway introduced into white corn does not affect development or agronomic performance

Area of Science:

• Agricultural science
• Biotechnology
• Human nutrition

Background:

• Vitamin A deficiency is a significant global health issue, particularly in developing countries.
• Biofortified crops, such as high-carotenoid corn (Carolight®), offer a sustainable dietary solution.
• Assessing the agronomic performance and trait stability of novel crops is crucial for their successful adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the agronomic performance of Carolight® compared to its near-isogenic parental line.
• To assess the stability and functionality of the pro-vitamin A trait in Carolight® under different growing conditions.
• To determine Carolight®'s suitability for integration into breeding programs for enhanced pro-vitamin A delivery.

Main Methods:

• Comparative field and greenhouse trials were conducted.
• Agronomic traits, including grain yield and its components, were monitored.
• The stability and functionality of the carotenoid trait were experimentally verified.

Main Results:

• Carolight® demonstrated indistinguishable agronomic performance, including grain yield, compared to its near-isogenic white corn line.
• The pro-vitamin A trait in Carolight® remained stable and functional under both controlled and field conditions.
• No yield penalty was observed due to the engineered metabolic pathway.

Conclusions:

• Carolight® is agronomically equivalent to conventional corn, ensuring productivity.
• The pro-vitamin A trait is stable and functional, validating its efficacy.
• Carolight® is a viable candidate for incorporation into breeding programs to develop enhanced pro-vitamin A hybrids.