Developing and promoting new cultivars needs to be a dynamic and continuous process that, when coupled with efficient seed production and distribution programs, will improve maize productivity at the farm level. Close collaboration between CIMMYT and NARC has resulted in the identification of new improved cultivars adapted to different environmental conditions in Nepal. Line development initially involves artificial screening for downy mildew, intense selection for adaptation and resistance to other diseases of importance in Asia. At later stages, lines are tested for their yield potential and reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses including banded leaf and sheath blight, downy mildew, drought, waterloging, low nitrogen and high density. Testing combining ability and cross performance of lines is conducted in two stages. It starts with the evaluation of testcross progenies to determine the worth of new lines, fo1lowed by design-II mating crosses among selected lines. Further characterization of lines is achieved by making diallel crosses among elite lines. Promotion of new hybrids and varieties has been done through regional and TAMNET trials and through evaluation of DEMO-trials. Additional activities to support the promotion and dissemination of new hybrids and varieties are seed multiplication for multilocation testing, initial increases of breeder seed and direct participation in seed production activities.

Text in English

0211|AGRIS 0201|AL-Maize Program|R01PROCE

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection