1. Maize research in India: challenges and opportunities
Icar-Indian Institute Of Maize Research
Pusa Campus, New Delhi

2. Maize – a crop of opportunities
grown in more than 166 countries of temperate, tropical and sub-tropical regions
versatile crop with wider adaptability
global production of 967 m MT from 177 m ha with productivity of 5.46 t /ha, in
highest productivity of 10t / ha in USA (largest producer)
6.0 t/ ha productivity in China
raw material for hundreds’ of industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetics etc
Last 10 years growth rate (CAGR) in production 3.4%, area 2.2% and productivity 1.2%
Maize in India, contributes nearly 9 % in the national food basket. In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc.

3. Maize producing countries,2014-15
Global scenario
Maize producing countries,
source: FAOstat, 2016

4. Maize productivity and key factors India vis’ a vis’ major players
USA EU
China
Brazil
India
Hybrid
100%
30%
Climate
Temperate
Sub-tropical , temperate
Tropical
Crop duration
Long
Medium, long
Medium to long
Short, medium, long
Irrigation , inputs
Yes ,high
Yes, high
20-25% , low to medium

5. Maize in India contributes 9% to the Indian food basket
generates employment to >100 million man-days at the farm and downstream agricultural and industrial sectors
diversified uses, especially feed use , industrial applications on rise ; food use declining
Maize growing areas
AP, TS (20.9%), Karnataka (16.5%),Rajasthan (9.9 %) ,Maharashtra (9.1%), Bihar (8.9%),UP (6.1 %), MP (5.7 %), HP (4.4 %)
non-traditional regions i.e. peninsular India : AP,TS rank 5th in area (0.79 m ha) but recorded highest production (4.14 m t) and productivity (5.26 t /ha) and the productivity in some of the districts is more or equal to that of USA
Source : farmer.gov.in/cropstaticsmaize
Utilization 2015
Source: IMS, 2015

6. Indian scenario
CAGR of 5.5 % in production , 2.9% in productivity and 2.5% in area over the base year
Contd..

7. Growth rate : global vs India
source : USDA,2015
Growth over the last 10 years has deep roots

8. All India Coordinated maize improvement project
launched in 1957 at Pusa campus, New Delhi
a pioneer project which is fore-runner of coordinated projects in other crops
mandated with improving maize productivity and production in the country
ICAR-SAU linkages
five agro-climatic zones with specific requirements
Contd…

9. Major agro-climatic zones
North hill zone
Zone 2
North west plain zone
Zone 3
North east plain zone
Zone 4
Peninsular zone
Zone 5
Central western zone
Total testing locations are 60, of which 31 are regular AICRP (Maize) centres and 29 are voluntary centres

10. Trends in maize APY before inception of project till date
Currently m ha area in maize with total production of m t and productivity of t/ha in …..as per fourth advance estimate GOI 2016
The trends can be interpreted in terms of different phases in maize research

11. Phases in maize research
five phases in maize research in India (Dass et al 2012; Kumar et al 2012))
AICRP started with development of double cross hybrids:
1961 : ‘Ganga 1’, ‘Ganga 101’, ‘Ranjit’ and ‘Deccan’ followed by double top cross hybrids, viz., ‘Ganga Safed 2’, ‘Hi-Starch’, ‘Ganga 5’, etc
Major issues:
inbred lines low in productivity (being temperate in origin, failed to acclimatize ) making hybrid seed production a challenge
managing seven / five isolations daunting task
development of DTCs also very slow process because identification of best possible inbred combinations time consuming and lengthy process
Switch –over to OPV breeding (1967 to 1988 )
Contd…

12. Hybrid breeding era
1996: the first single cross hybrid ‘Paras’ (by PAU) ; did not go to farmers field due to seed production constraints
to present day , the focus on single cross hybrid technology
high yielding, stress tolerant single cross hybrids of different maturity groups ( extra-early, early, medium and late) for different production ecologies
SCHs of Normal maize , Quality protein maize (QPM), Sweet corn, Baby corn, Pop corn

13. Land marks in maize research
Year
Land mark
1957
All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project (DCHs, TWCs, OPVs)
SCH project launched, new seed policy
1994
Directorate of Maize Research (Hybrid breeding)
2014
Indian Institute of Maize Research (SCHs)

14. Cultivar development Scenario 1961-2016
Decade
OPVs
DCHs
TWCs
SCHs
Total 6 2 1 15 14 4 - 19 40 7 47 11 17 18 65 34 49 99
2011- till date 3 12 63
116 31 45
308
Share of public versus proprietary

15. Pace of SCH development
only 20 SCHs during 39 years ( )
5 times more number of SCHs released over the last 15 years
60 hybrids released in this decade so far

16. Hybrid profile Maturity Number of hybrids Avg. yield (range)
Public-bred Hybrids
Proprietary hybrids
Late ( full season) 19
COMH 7,CO6, CMH , GH0727
Bio9682,IG8237,P3501,DKC9081,NMH920
Medium / intermediate 30
COHM10,COHM 8, COHM 9, PMH6, Pratap QPM 1, DHM117, DHM121
NMH1242,Bio9544,KDMH017, LG32-81,NSCH12
Early/ extra-early 11
HM13, Pant Shankar 1, PMH 5,Vivek 47, Vivek 53,Vivek 45, Vivek 51, Vivek 39
Bio605,Sun Vamman, P1864
Total 60

17. Inbred-hybrid technology
Development of stable, vigorous and productive inbred lines with high seed yield
Evaluation of inbred lines for per se performance, biotic and abiotic stresses and quality
Categorization of lines with respect to Seed and Pollen parent ( heterotic grouping)
Use of desirable lines in the development of productive hybrids with resistance / tolerance to biotic / abiotic stresses
Cost-effective, stable and easy seed production technology
Deployment of hybrids:
rain-fed Kharif :early (75-85 days) drought tolerant
irrigated belt (Kharif): medium (86-95 days) / late maturing (>95days)
rabi : cold tolerant, late maturing ( days)
spring : early heat tolerant

18. High stakes in hybrid research
globally maize research is a highly competitive area
MNCs are very active
international organizations
sequencing of maize genome (2009),latest technologies
maize industry growing
increasing demand
AICRP centres :
VPKAS Almora (6), TNAU Coimbatore (6), Hyderabad (5), Karnal (4), Ludhiana (3),others
Private companies:
Nuziveedu (7),Kaveri (6), Monsanto (6), Bisco Biosciences (6), Pioneer (5), Bioseed (4), Syngenta (3),others
Over last 5 years

19. Hybrid research emphasizes following key activities
Evaluation of germplasm for phenological traits; identification of useful material ; introgression in adapted genetic backgrounds; development of inbred lines
Evaluation for agronomic performance
Characterization based on maturity, kernel colour and texture and heterotic grouping of lines
Evaluation of QPM, sweet corn, pop corn, baby corn, high oil germplasm for quality parameters
Screening of desirable lines for biotic and abiotic stress resistance /tolerance at hot spot locations under artificial epiphytotic conditions
Identification of superior lines to augment hybrid breeding programs
Germplasm exchange and benefit sharing

20. Development of inbred lines
strong inbred base stronger hybrids
Line
Desirable trait/s
HKI-288-2
Late , yellow and flint grain and MLB resistant
HKI-47
Late, bright orange, flint, good combiner
HKI-287L
Late, yellow, flint, long cob, productive
HKI-327T
Late , tall, yellow, flint
HKI-326
Late, yellow, flint, productive
HKI
Late, yellow, flint, good combiner, highly productive
HKI-1341
Late, white, flint, productive, resistant to rust
HKI-1342
Late, white, flint, long cob, resistant to rust, MLB
HKI-MBR-139-2
Medium, white, flint, good combiner, dark green leaves
HKI C 322
Medium, white, flint, productive, strong plant, dark green leaves
DMR-PFSR-1
Source of resistance to PFSR
DMR-PFSR-9
Source of resistance to PFSR, stiff, strong and stay green stalk
DMR-7
Flint, productive, resistant to pink borer
DMR-15
Flint, productive, good combiner, cold tolerant, colour, temperate origin
DMR-16
Flint, productive, good combiner, long cob, cold tolerant, attractive grain colour, temperate origin
DMR-17
Flint, productive, good combiner, cold tolerant, colour, temperate origin
Contd..

21. Development of inbred lines
Desirable trait/s
KDTML-66
Drought tolerance; higher number of rows per cob and high test weight
KDTML-19
Drought tolerance
KDTML-3
KML-29
Drought tolerance and water logging
BML 8
Tall plants with conical shaped ears and good combiner
BML 11
Tassel resembling sorghum panicle
BML 14
Green tassel , extended pollen shedding period (7 days) and good combiner
BML 15
Water logging tolerant , resistant to MLB, TLB, and good combiner
BML 20
Extra green stem, tolerant to lodging and good combiner
BML 3
Long productive ears, resistant to PFSR , MLB and good combiner
BML 5
Dwarf, tolerant to BLSB, MLB, Turcicum leaf blight (TLB) and good combiner
BML 7
Orange colour seed, tolerant to BLSB, MLB and good combiner
Quality Protein maize
DMRQ-107
Medium, yellow, flint, tryptophan 0.71%, good combiner, thin cob
DMRQPM58
Early , tryptophan 0.66%
DMRQPM102
Medium, tryptophan 0.69%, protein 13.02%
VQL-3
Early, orange, flint, tryptophan 0.83%
VQL-8
Medium, orange, flint, tryptophan 0.94%
Contd..

22. Development of inbred lines
Trait/s
Quality Protein Maize
VQL-12
Early, orange, flint, tryptophan 0.75%
VQL-16
Early, yellow, flint, tryptophan 0.73%
VQL-30
Early, orange, flint, tryptophan 0.71%
Sweet corn
Win Sweet Corn
Yellow, shrunken, high sugar
DMSC-1
DMSC-6
DMS-201
DMS-203
DMS-206
DMS-207
DMS-208
Pop corn
DPcl-10
Medium, high poppiness , good pollinator
HKI PC-4B
HKI PCBT-3
High oil
DMRHO-57
High oil content (6.34%), attractive yellow flint grain
HKI-6
Yellow, flint, high oil content (6.1%)
HKI-1(T)
Yellow, flint, high oil content(6.06%)

23. Maize and nutrition security
Development of nutritionally enriched maize
800 million people undernourished
vast majority from SSA and developing countries
Asian countries in general account for 12.7% malnourishment
with one sixth of the global population residing in India, one third of about two billion people suffering from vitamin and micronutrient deficit are in India (WHO,2014)
Biofortified maize (QPM/NM + vitamins + minerals)
QPM has tryptophan (>0.6%) and lysine (>2.4%), balanced leucine to isoleucine ratio, lower zeins, with corresponding increase in non-zein fraction in endosperm proteins; opaque-2 gene +hard endosperm He gene ( for kernel vitreousness)+genetic modifiers (many genes with similar, small, supplementary effects )
biological value higher (almost double)
a dozen cultivars released for different production ecologies
HQPM1, 2, 4, 5, 7, Shaktiman 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Pratap QPM 1 , Vivek QPM9

24. Crop / ear view of QPM hybrids
HQPM 5
HQPM 1
HQPM7
Shaktiman 1
HQPM 7
VQPM9
Developed by AICRP (maize) centres located at CCSHAU, Uchani Karnal,VPKAS, Almora, RAU Dholi

25. Molecular breeding for trp/lys
Vivek QPM 9: an early maturing QPM hybrid developed by Molecular marker Assisted Selection (MAS)…………….conversion of Vivek hybrid 9
Conversion of parental lines , CM212 and CM145
CM212 was converted into VQL1 using CML180 as donor
CM 145 was converted into VQL2 using CML170 as donor
Foreground selection using SSR markers, viz. phi 57, umc 1066, phi 112 ( linkage with o2 gene)
Genome-wide background selection using 100 polymorphic SSRs
Phenotypic selection for kernel modification
Biochemical analysis for tryptophan content
Tryptophan :0.83%
Lysine: 2.98%
Yield : 5.8 t/ha
Released for : Himalayan belt and Peninsular states
Developed by :VPKAS, Almora
CML 180 X
CM212
CML 170 X
CM145
VQL1 x
VQL2
Vivek QPM9

26. Molecular breeding for Provitamin A
B-carotene: >12 ug/g

27. Abiotic stresses source/s of tolerance to drought, ESM
water logging (ESM)
nutrient stress
cold stress
salinity stress
drought
high temperature
source/s of tolerance to drought, ESM
Conventional + molecular approaches being followed

28. Major abiotic stress phenotyping sites
Drought: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Water-logging (ESM): Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa
Low temperature : J&K,Punjab, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim
…………… ……
Drought
Water logging
Cold

29. Biotic stresses (diseases)
MLB
TLB
P. Rust
C. Rust
BLSB
CLS
RDM
SDM
BSDM
Ch. rot
Fusarium stalk rot
Pythium
stalk rot
BSR
Ear rots
Late wilt

30. Multi-location and multi-environment evaluation of genotypes
ICAR-VPKAS, Almora (TLB)
HPKVV, Bajaura (TLB)
UAS, ZARS, Mandya(SDM, TLB, P. rust)
HPKVV, Dhaulakuan (BSDM, BSR, BLSB)
MPUAT, Udaipur (PFSR, RDM, CLS)
TNAU, Coimbatore (SDM)
CCSHAU, RRS, Karnal (MLB, BLSB)
PAU, Ludhiana (PFSR, MLB)
ICAR-IARI, Delhi (MLB, BLSB)
GBPUAT, Pantnagar (BLSB, ESR)
ARI, ANGRU, Hyderabad (PFSR)
RAU, Dholi (MLB, TLB)
Medinapur (BLSB)- Voluntary centre
UAS, Dharwad (TLB, C.Rust, PFSR)
AAU, Godhra (TLB, MLB, BLSB, CLS)
Total diseases: 10

31. Biotic stresses (insect-pests)
158
Chilo partellus
Sesamia inferens
Atherigona spp.
Grasshopper
Aphid
Climbing cut worm
Chaffer beetle
Helicoverpa armigera
Tobacco cater pillar
12357
123578
125
12357
12357
12457
125
123567
12567
1257
1257
1257
1257
125
1257
125789
125789
Chilo in kharif
Sesamia in rabi
Atherigona in spring - summer
125789
USA: % BT
Brazil:100% BT
Philippines: Ist in Asia

32. To sustain future hybrid breeding programs
Strengthening germplasm base
temperate germplasm, productive inbred lines (ex PVP)
Source/s of resistance to BLSB, DMs,Chaeffer beetle
genetically diverse sweet corn germplasm; super sweets (sh2)
baby corn suitable germplasm with prolific ears
pop corn germplasm
genetic stocks, viz. double opaques, haploid inducers, etc
DH technology
quick way for developing inbred lines
routinely used in international organizations/ MNCs
Status in India : infancy stage

33. Maize agronomy crop geometry:
under good management conditions: higher plant population up to 80,000 plants/ha;rain fed ecologies: 60,000 plants/ha;winter season: higher plant population (80 to 90 thousands/ha)
nutrient management:
kharif season (irrigated): 10 t/ha + 150:75:75 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O
kharif season (rainfed): 10 t/ha + 120:40:40 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O
winter season: 250:105:105 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O
five-split application
water management
sensitive stages: seedling, knee high, flowering and grain-filling
RCTs
zero till
permanent beds
crop diversification
new inter- and sequential cropping systems developed
baby corn- based system with vegetables during winter season gave 400% cropping intensity

34. Seed production technology
Hybrid technology entails
productive female line
nicking of lines
productive hybrid
economically viable, easy and stable seed production
seed production taken up in rabi season under high input conditions
Seed production : Co6

35. Production and distribution of quality seeds
Seed producing agencies ,viz. NSC / state corporations
Involvement of KVKs
Registered growers / progressive farmers
models
Seed village concept for the development of regional seed hubs
Public Private Partnership (PPP)

36. Commercialization of hybrids
PPP model
Hybrids
Developed by AICRP centre
PPP with
HQPM-1, HQPM5, HM-5, HM-4
CCSHAU, Karnal
Kamboj Exports (Karnal, HAR )
HQPM-1, HQPM5, HM-10, HM-4
PI Industries (Gurgaon, HAR)
HQPM-1 & HQPM5
Akash Seeds & Co. (Ambikapur, CHG)
Bharatiya Beej Nigam Ltd. (UK)
HM8, HM-9, HM10
Nuziveedu Seeds Pvt. Ltd (AP)
HQPM-1, HQPM-7, HM-5, HM-10
Arpan Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (Udaipur, RAJ)
HQPM-1 & HQPM-5
Charoen Pophand Seeds Pvt. Ltd(Bangalore,)
HQPM-1
Balaji Seeds (Kurnool, AP)
Sansar Agropol Pvt. Ltd. (Orissa)
HM-9 & HM-11
Vibha Agrotech. Seeds, (Hyderabad, TS)
DHM117
ANGRAU, Hyderabad
Vicky Seeds, (Hyderabad, TS)
ABS Seeds, (Hyderabad,TS)
Sampoorna Seeds (Kurnool, AP)
VIVEK QPM-9
VPKAS, Almora
Bhartiya Beej Nigam Ltd. (UK)
Ventira Crop Science Pvt. Ltd Hyd. TS
VIVEK QPM-9 & VL Baby Corn
Keertiman AgroGenetics Pvt. Ltd (AP)

37. Major issues in future abiotic and biotic constraints
natural resources degradation
enhanced feed and fodder requirements
malnutrition
peri-urban agriculture
demanding seed supply
Because of changing climatic conditions, new diseases may appear, diseases which are unimportant now may assume significance ,environmental pollution, water pollution,industrial effluents find their way in agricultural fields , water stagnation, etc

38. Future maize technologies
strengthening of conventional research base and supplementing with
genomics and molecular breeding
next generation mutation techniques (targeted mutagenesis)
genetic engineering and gene stacking
RNAi technology
new opportunities for combating biotic and abiotic stresses
phenomics
nanotechnology
cellulosic ethanol and molecular pharming
ICT enabled extension
improved production technology
Source : IIMR vision, 2050

39. THANK YOU VERY MUCH