DuPont Donates Sequences from Corn Disease Agent to Advance Research

Pioneer Disease-Resistant Lines Advance to Market

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DuPont, through its
Pioneer Hi-Bred business, today announced that it is making publicly available
genomic sequences of a major fungal pathogen of corn plants to enable
scientists worldwide to more quickly complete the sequence of this pathogen
and to accelerate disease-resistance studies. Pioneer is donating the
sequences to GenBank(R), the publicly available genetic sequence database of
the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Colletotrichum graminicola is a fungal pathogen that causes Anthracnose
Leaf Blight and Stalk Rot, which lead to corn yield losses worldwide due to
premature death and weakened stalk strength. Pioneer has commercialized
Anthracnose-resistant corn hybrids in Latin America and is planning to
incorporate an Anthracnose-resistant gene into corn hybrids that will grow in
the Northern Hemisphere.
"Defining and donating the gene sequences of C. graminicola will
accelerate the scientific community's study of this important corn pathogen,
creating knowledge that universities and ultimately companies can use to
protect corn yields around the world," said William S. Niebur, vice president,
DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is currently supporting the mapping
and sequencing of a different strain of the fungal pathogen through the Broad
Institute's Fungal Genome Initiative. Pioneer's donation will accelerate the
progress of the CSREES initiative. These research efforts represent the first
time any groups have sequenced strains of this key pathogen.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading source of
customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed
processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to
advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a science-based products and services company.
Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions
essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating
in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products
and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation.
GenBank(R) is a registered trademark of the National Institutes of Health.
SOURCE DuPont

Julie Kenney of DuPont, +1-515-334-4567, julie.kenney@pioneer.com