Dwarf plants to cut cost down and to reduce environmental footprint

Tall, waving corn field that line Midwestern roads may soon be replaced by dwarfed versions that require less water, fertilizer and other input, thanks to a fungicide commonly used on golf courses. Burkhard Schulz, a Purdue University assistant professor of plant biochemical and molecular genetics, had earlier f

ound that knocking out the steroid function in corn plants would create tiny versions that only had female sex characteristics. But brassinazole, the chemical used to inhibit the plant steroid biosynthesis, was prohibitively expensive. One gram of brassinazole could cost as much as $ 25,000, so Schulz started looking into other options. He found that propiconzole, used to treat fungal dollar spot disease on golf course, is more potent and costs about 10 cents for the same amount.

source: Terra Green