Hunt for cereal killer

THE SEARCH for genes that make cereals and grasses resistant to diseases is under way at the John Innes Centre in Norwich as part of a Pounds 1.5 million European project. The JIC team will compare the genetic structure of crops such as maize, rice, wheat and millet in collaboration with 13 partners in seven countries. Firms taking part include the UK-based PBI-Cambridge and the Dutch seed company Advanta.