Maize leaf angle genes could allow enhancements to biofuel composition

The typical biofuel composition in the years to come could include a greater quantity of energy released from maize, thanks to the discovery of the genes responsible for controlling the angle at which corn leaves grow.

By manipulating the genes, scientists may be able to tighten the angle of the leaves, allowing maize to be grown closer together and increasing the yield of any particular area of land.

In turn, this could allow more corn to be grown on a given area for use as food or in biofuel composition.

The finding comes from Cornell and North Carolina State Universities, hosts of the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

A number of genes were discovered which individually alter the leaf angle by up to 1.5 degrees, but together can have an 80-degree impact.

Cornell University was recently listed among America's greenest academic institutions in an article in the International Business Times.