DuPont Donates Sequences from Corn Disease Agent to Advance Research

Pioneer Disease-Resistant Lines Advance to Market

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 31, 2008 - DuPont, through its Pioneer Hi-Bred business, today announced that it is making publicly available genomic sequences of a major fungal pathogen of corn plants to enable scientists worldwide to more quickly complete the sequence of this pathogen and to accelerate disease-resistance studies. Pioneer is donating the sequences to GenBank®, the publicly available genetic sequence database of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Colletotrichum graminicola is a fungal pathogen that causes Anthracnose Leaf Blight and Stalk Rot, which lead to corn yield losses worldwide due to premature death and weakened stalk strength. Pioneer has commercialized Anthracnose-resistant corn hybrids in Latin America and is planning to incorporate an Anthracnose-resistant gene into corn hybrids that will grow in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Defining and donating the gene sequences of C. graminicola will accelerate the scientific community's study of this important corn pathogen, creating knowledge that universities and ultimately companies can use to protect corn yields around the world," said William S. Niebur, vice president, DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is currently supporting the mapping and sequencing of a different strain of the fungal pathogen through the Broad Institute's Fungal Genome Initiative. Pioneer's donation will accelerate the progress of the CSREES initiative. These research efforts represent the first time any groups have sequenced strains of this key pathogen.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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3/31/08

Contacts:
Julie Kenney
515-334-4567

GenBank® is a registered trademark of the National Institutes of Health.