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Hybrid Plants Grow Bigger and More
Vigorously Than Their Parents
Research on the growth patterns of
hybrid plants, such as corn, could result
in new methods to increase biomass for
bio-fuels and seed production. Hybrid
plants have been found to grow bigger
and better than their parents because
many of their genes for photosynthesis
and starch metabolism are more active
during the day.
Polyploid plants, plants with two or
more sets of chromosomes, which
make up more than 70 per cent of all
flowering plants here found to have
the same characteristics as hybrids.
The hybrids and polyploids exhibited
increased photosynthesis, higher
amounts of chlorophyll and greater
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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2009
starch accumulation than their parents,
leading to their larger growth.
Researchers found a connection
between circadian clock regulators
and vigorous growth in hybrids and
polyploids. Circadian clock control
growth, metabolism and plant and
animal fitness,
This information may lead to
the development of genomic and
biotechnological tools to find and make
better hybrids and polyploids.
(Source: University of Texas at Austin. "Plants Grow
Bigger And More Vigorously Through Changes In
Their Internal Clocks." ScienceDaily 24 November
2008. 28 November 2008 http://www.sciencedaily.
com¬ /releases/2008/11/081123150255.htm)