MAIZE IS A MAJOR CROP IN THE U.S., AND WORLDWIDE, AND SERVES AS A CRITICAL SOURCE OF FOOD AND MANY OTHER PRODUCTS. AS AN INTENSIVELY GROWN CROP, HOWEVER, IT HAS SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON LAND, WATER AND ENERGY RESOURCES. OUR WORK TARGETS THE PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE PLANTS, REASONING THAT INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY WILL RESULT IN GREATER EFFICIENCY OF USE FOR THESE RESOURCES.OUR MAIN TARGET FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS, I.E. THE CAPTURE OF LIGHT ENERGY BY LEAVES AND ITS CONVERSION TO CHEMICAL ENERGY AND ULTIMATELY PLANT GROWTH. WE INTEND TO INCREASE THE RATE AT WHICH MAIZE PLANTS ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE BY CREATING NOVEL GENETIC BACKGROUNDS AND TESTING THEM FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS RATES, METABOLISM OF SUGARS, AND GROWTH AND YIELD. THIS WILL BE DONE MAINLY IN THE LABORATORY, BUT ALSO IN SPECIALIZED FIELD SITES. IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, COMMERCIAL SEED PRODUCERS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR TECHNOLOGY AND PLACE IT IN SEED VARIETIES COMMONLY USED BY U.S. AND FOREIGN FARMERS.