Mutant maize with a ‘smart canopy’ evades the shade at high planting density

Adapting plant architecture to tolerate dense planting is an important strategy for enhancing maize yields. A newly identified mutant gene confers a ‘smart canopy’ architecture, with upright upper leaves, less-erect middle leaves and relatively flat lower leaves. Plants with this gene yield more grain under high-density planting than their wild-type counterparts do.