Genotype independent hybrid cereals

The Silkless gene Sk1 is a maize sex determination gene, the first single gain-of-function gene known to control survival of functional pistils. It enables production of unisexual flowers (either staminate or pistillate on separate plants) in cereal crops.

• Lower cost of development for hybrid seed through outcrossing of unisexual plants. Only one generation of gene-editing per inbred, instead of 6-8.
• More efficient production of hybrid seed through wind pollination of unisexual flowers.
• Profound implications for food security increasing crop yields by 20-40% without placing additional land under production.
• Better abiotic stress resistance and disease resistance.
• Limited only by resources vs. current hybrid sterility systems which are genotype and environment-dependent.