Weeds Grow Bigger Among Corn
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 17:00
in Biology & Nature
The axiom, "growing like a weed," takes on new meaning in light of changes in gene expression that occur when weeds interact with the crops they infest, according to plant scientist Sharon Clay. Using sophisticated genetic-mapping techniques, the South Dakota State University professor and her research team are documenting how corn and weeds influence one another. "Weeds grow like weeds when they grow with corn," says Clay. "They grow bigger, and taller in corn than by themselves." And inversely, "corn grows less among weeds."