[nafex] nafex Digest, Vol 109, Issue 16

alden at waldenwinds.com alden at waldenwinds.com
Wed Feb 15 12:33:28 EST 2012


<<It may well be twice as good for making biodiesel; but it may be worse 
for any other purpose>>

False.   The high oil content comes from increasing the size of the germ.  Hence, protein is increased as well

High-oil corn has been bred since at least 1896, however, it is not a selection, it is a technology.

A TopCross Blend® is a mechanical mixture of two types of corn seed. One type, representing 90 to 95 percent of the seed in a bag, is a hybrid that is designated as the "Grain Parent." The normal male fertile version is called the "Grain Parent Check." The second type, representing all remaining seed, is a special "Pollinator." The Grain Parent is a male sterile version of an elite hybrid that may already be in commercial production. The Pollinator is a special line, available from DuPont and licenced to the seed company, that sheds pollen within a TopCross Blend production field. The pollen shed from these Pollinator plants contain special genes that cause a kernel to produce a much larger than average germ or embryo (commonly called xenia effect). Since most of the oil and protein is in the germ, the oil, and thus the energy level, and protein quality of the grain produced by fertilization with these pollinators is enhanced.
http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/AA/A003.aspx

"High-oil corn worked well in swine rations. Oil content averaged 7.5%; protein was 1-2% higher than in conventional hybrids. Amino acids were a little higher, too. Lysine averages about 0.3l%, compared with conventional corn at 0.25 or 0.26%." quote from:
http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/high-oil-corn-greases-new-markets
Phosphorus, Calcium and Vitamin E were significantly increased.
The only component notably decreased was starch.
I was surprised the increase in protein was small relative to the increase in Oil.  
To my knowledge, the technology was being practiced prior to GM organism was introduced into corn.  It was [and may still be] an advance by big biz that was beneficial without genetic modification.

Note with all we had going, we didn't get more than half as much oil achieved as the N. Koreans did. 
Charlie in Massachusetts


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