Corn plant named ‘Venus Express’

Abstract

A new and distinct corn plant, which is the product of a cross between gamagrass, Tripsacum laxum, and diploid perennial teosinte, Zea diploperennis. This plant is fertile, has proven to be cross compatible with Zea mays L. and offers an avenue to expand the gene pool for commercial corn varieties. The instant plant is perennial with well developed rhizomes, aerenchyma tissue in its roots, abundant seed and prolific vegetation production, traits that give it improved value as a forage crop.

1. A new and distinct variety of corn plant, substantially as herein shown and described, that is characterized by its profuse production of fruit, perennial habit, vigorous vegetative production of culms, roots with aerenchyma, asexual reproduction by rhizomes, stem cuttings, and anther culture, and its good combining ability with corn that permits movement of new genes and agronomic traits into corn using conventional plant breeding methods.