![A team led by Nebraska's James Schnable has received federal funding to expand the development of an innovative method to predict the performance of corn hybrids. The work is an important step toward commercializing new crop varieties. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) Man stands in corn field](https://cropwatch.unl.edu/styles/large/public/images/hero/2024/2024-08-16-corn-genes.jpg?itok=1iP5MDNM)
Schnable Expands Work to ID Corn Genes, Predict Hybrid Performance
August 14, 2024
The research team's efforts could lead to innovations that significantly streamline the process of breeding and commercializing high-yield, resilient corn varieties, which is crucial for meeting global food demands.
![Judith Turk, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources, will use an $854,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program to shed light on how human activity is impacting soil degradation in the Great Plains. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) Woman sits near wall of soil](https://cropwatch.unl.edu/styles/large/public/images/hero/2024/2024-06-07-soil-health-resilience.jpeg?itok=pXDNAwLh)
Turk Investigating Soil Health Over Time, a Key to Climate Resilience Strategies
June 6, 2024
Turk’s research will inform soil carbon sequestration strategies and advance understanding of soil health, which is key to agricultural systems’ capacity to withstand extreme weather.
![(From left) James Schnable, Rebecca Roston and Toshihiro Obata hold young sorghum plants outside of the Bioscience Greenhouses on City Campus. The researchers are part of a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to try to boost the cold tolerance of sorghum, and eventually corn and other crops, by harnessing the power of the plant’s circadian rhythms. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing) People holding sorghum plants toward camera](https://cropwatch.unl.edu/styles/large/public/images/hero/2024/2024-03-01-crops-cold-snaps.jpg?itok=B_XGAFUR)
Husker Researchers Aim to Help Crops Survive Cold Snaps
February 29, 2024
UNL researchers are examining the way sorghum defends itself against low temperatures and comparing it to the cold tolerance characteristics of foxtail millet to find answers on improving crop resilience.
Nebraska Team Merges Machine Learning, Plant Genetics to Maximize Sorghum Potential
August 22, 2019
Sorghum is emerging as a star player in the biofuels industry. With its water use efficiency, resistance to heat, and low cost of seed, it could outpace corn, with a little boost from improved genetics. To aid that, a UNL team was recently awarded a $2.7 million grant to work on a rapid, efficient method for characterizing its gene functions.
NSF Award Boosts Research into Freeze-Tolerant Crops
March 8, 2019
For some plants — like corn — below-zero temperatures trigger a cascade of lethal damage. For others, the damage isn't permanent. UNL biochemist Rebecca Roston is working to identify key properties so one day more freeze-tolerant crops might be developed.