Lysine is an amino acid that is used to fortify certain animal feeds. An adequate source of lysine is essential to the health of livestock, such as pigs and poultry - monogastric animals that rely on corn as a major part of their diet. However, the lysine content in corn seeds is not sufficient to meet the dietary needs of these animals. Standard breeding methods have produced higher lysine hybrids in corn, but different kernel traits prevented them from being adopted. Currently, synthetic lysine ($1.20 per pound) is added to livestock feed at an annual cost of $70 million in the U.S.

This project's goal is to increase the lysine content of feed corn in order to improve the nutritional value for swine and poultry. Using genetic engineering, a corn gene that regulates lysine synthesis has been isolated and transferred into corn plants. This gene has been licensed for commercial use by the University of Minnesota. The modified plants are being evaluated to measure the increase in lysine production. This project (MIN-13-086) may increase the lysine content of current corn hybrids by 50 to 100 percent, increasing its nutritional value and reducing the cost of adding lysine.

The improved nutritional value of high lysine corn could increase the feeding value of corn by 5 to 10 cents per bushel. In the US this could amount to $70 million annually to farmers, farm families and businesses producing corn or raising hogs or poultry. This is a slight reduction in total feed cost, and consumers would probably not see much of an effect.

If high lysine corn were adopted in regions of the world where corn is a major source of human protein, millions of people could benefit. However, the likelihood of widespread adoption is low. There is the possible negative impact that genetically engineered crops, such as this corn, will not be accepted by some sectors of the public.

Minnesota County
Ramsey

Publication for Further Information
Bittel, D.C., J.M. Shaver, D.A. Somers, B.G. Gengenbach. 1996. Lysine accumulation in maize cell cultures transformed with a lysine-insensitive form of maize dihydrodipicolinate synthase. Theor Appl Genet 92:770-77.

Primary Researcher
Burle Gengenbach

Participating Individuals
15 Undergraduate Students
9 Graduate Students

Participating Institutions
Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research North Central Biotechnology Initiative North Central Biotechnical Initiative Pioneer Hi-Bred International USDA NRI Program Midwest Plant Biotechnology Consortium

Department
Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Government Funding Type
Federal

Additional Funding Information
Average annual funding is $60,000.00