The growth of plants and plant organs is highly controlled by complex regulatory mechanisms that communicate with both intrinsic development signals as well as environmental cues. We anticipate that current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms regulating plant growth will have a significant impact on our ability to select novel high yielding and climate adapted crops. To this end, we have developed a highly innovative approach, denominated BREEDIT, in which the combinatorial effects of a large number of growth regulatory genes is analyzed in maize.