Mertz, Edwin T.

Mertz, Edwin T. (Theodore) (1909–  ) agriculturist; born in Missoula, Mont. He was a research chemist at Armour & Co. in Chicago (1935–37) and worked at several Midwestern universities before settling at Purdue in 1946. In his first decade there he discovered high lysine corn, now called Quality Protein Maize (1953), and determined the protein requirements for fast-growing pigs. From 1956 to 1976 he consulted for the Indiana State Hospitals and developed biochemistry research departments at several facilities. In 1976 he attained emeritus status and began consulting on a sorghum research program at Purdue. His publications include Quality Protein Maize (1992).