Food & agriculture · 1926

Hybrid corn

Crossing inbred lines unlocked hybrid vigour, and US corn yields began a century-long climb.

George Shull's inbred-line work and Donald Jones's 1918 double cross made hybrids practical; Henry A. Wallace founded Hi-Bred Corn in 1926. By 1943 over 90 percent of Iowa corn was hybrid, and US yields have risen about sixfold since the 1930s.

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