Hybrid Maize Research Consortium B. S. Vivek Awareness Meeting 19 March 2010

Consortium  an association, partnership, or union of institutions  formed for the purpose of jointly engaging in a venture  requiring large resources of capital

Developing maize hybrids is a venture that requires …..  elite sources of germplasm (genetic variability)  skilled personnel (training)  an evaluation network (collaboration) and  resources

To be ahead in the game, tap into …  the power of informatics (computing)  molecular marker technology  But these technologies further raise the threshold of skill and resources Courtesy: Paresh Verma

CIMMYT’s Comparative Advantage/Success Formula ………. The CIMMYT Genebank  Close to 25,000 maize and teosinte accessions

CIMMYT’s Comparative Advantage/Success Formula ………. Deployment  Trainees  Formal – 700 B Sc, M Sc and Ph D students from 74 countries  Informal – 10,000 researchers  Network  National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), Advanced Research institutes (ARIs), Universities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and private seed companies

CIMMYT’s Comparative Advantage/Success Formula ………. THE IMPACT  Inbred lines, OPVs, hybrids, donor stocks used world wide by both public and private partners  Maize varieties developed by CIMMYT and its partners cover half the area sown to improved varieties in non-temperate areas of the developing world

Farmer SmallMedium Big National Regional Multinational - Germplasm - Training - Hybrid Testing Network Seed Companies CIMMYT + Genebank + Training + Network–NARS NGOs ARIs… Private Seed Enterprises ……CIMMYT’s perspective

Proposed Sub-Projects  Sub-Project 1: Germplasm development and distribution  Sub-Project 2: Training  Sub-Project 3: Evaluation of Hybrids

Sub Project 1: Development and distribution of inbred lines  Activity 1.1: Development & distribution of early generation pedigree bulks  Identify 3 high priority target environments and traits by a majority vote  CIMMYT identifies elite donor & recipient lines from its germplasm base  CIMMYT forms F1 derived F2 pops or multi- parent breeding synthetics for line extraction  F2, F3 or F4 bulks will be made available to collaborators  Collaborators extract own proprietary lines

Sub Project 1: Development and distribution of inbred lines  Activity 1.2: Development and distribution of advanced generation lines untested for combining ability but tested per se for specified target traits  F5, F6 or F7 inbred bulks from Activity 1.1 will be evaluated per se for target stresses. Advanced generations will be made available  Collaborators directly use these lines in combination with their own lines to generate proprietary hybrids  CIMMYT obtains feed-back from collaborators on line performance (per se and hybrid) for recycling into new pedigree breeding projects

Sub Project 1: Development and distribution of inbred lines  Tapping into a broad germplasm base  Lines for target traits in target environments  Breeding populations will be non-heterotic  Selfing in heterotic sources has less probability of success  => more effort and resources to identify good lines

Sub-Project 2: Training Lessons Learnt  CIMMYT gives germplasm  What to do with it?  How to do it?  Who (lack of trained personnel)?  Resources (too expensive to do breeding)?

Demand on resource persons  Inadequate  All critical breeding operations not supported  All operations back-stopped  CIMMYT germplasm  Irrelevance of objective  Lack of “ownership” of process and germplasm  Reduced impact due to low motivation, interest, accountability Workshop / training course: Theory, quick, “learning by doing” absent, “devil lies in the detail” Seed Company Seed Preparation Planting Selection Pollination Selection Harvest Data Analysis Selection CIMMYT location CIMMYT Seed Preparation Planting Selection Pollination Selection Harvest Data Analysis Selection Sub-Project 2: Training Lessons Learnt Collaborative Visits Visiting Scientistships Theory Practice

Demand on resource persons  Inadequate  All critical breeding operations not supported  All operations back-stopped  CIMMYT germplasm  Irrelevance of objective  Lack of “ownership” of process and germplasm  Reduced impact due to low motivation and interest Workshop / training course: Theory, quick, “learning by doing” absent, “devil lies in the detail” Seed Company Seed Preparation Planting Selection Pollination Selection Harvest Data Analysis Selection Sub-Project 2: Training Lessons Learnt Collaborative Visits Visiting Scientistships CIMMYT location CIMMYT Seed Company Seed Preparation Planting Selection Pollination Selection Harvest Data Analysis Selection Practice Theory

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding Programs The Approach  Interested company grows a pre-determined number of rows (e.g. 500 rows) of segregating (F2/F3) bulks/families  “company comfortable” % of proprietary germplasm (e.g. 50% proprietary, 50% CIMMYT).  Nursery is grown at a CIMMYT location (e.g. Hyderabad) for one season  Each participant’s nurseries are clearly marked and identified  CIMMYT coordinates/organizes all field operations

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding Programs The Approach  Trainee supervises all crop operations (planting, pollination, selection, harvest, shelling, and data analysis) and makes selections while under constant technical supervision from CIMMYT  Selected advances remain the property of the concerned seed company and gets shipped back in its entirety to the company  Selection for the target environment - with duplicate evaluation nursery (single row, no pollination) at own target site.

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding Programs Advantages  Customized training given to the breeder keeping in mind the needs of the company  The breeding objective is relevant to the trainee/company  Accountability: At the end of a season a tangible output (seed of advanced generation) is generated for the company  neither extra time nor money is spent on separate training or for a breeding advance  A breeding advance is generated under CIMMYT supervision while the trainee is being trained.

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding Programs Advantages  The breeding material remains proprietary  Especially suited to trainees from companies that are  small to medium in nature  wish to grow in the maize seed business through having their own portfolio of hybrid products

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.2 Data Management  Genetic gain is a function of (NO, not a text book definition)  Selection intensity  Resource efficiency  => make informed decisions: to do that, data turnaround is critical to breeding operations, especially that of maize  The elements of quick data turn around:  Fast data capture  Quick data analysis  Availability of visualization tools to finalize selection

Sub-Project 2: Training- Data Management CIMMYT is able to offer ….  Fieldbook-IMIS System  Developed at CIMMYT  Developed by maize breeders for maize breeders  Tailored to maize  Excel based interface  Very flexible  Power of Excel at user’s disposal  Back end database - International Maize Information System (IMIS)  Powerful in pedigree management

Sub-Project 2: Training Activity 2.2 Data Management  CIMMYT Data Manager spends 2 weeks with each seed company implementing Fieldbook-IMIS  Needs to be a fully funded position

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing Why the need?  Unlike wheat, maize has genotype x environment interaction  => a hybrid good at a location need not be good at another location  Breeding for identified target environments is crucial to derive maximum return to investment  Climate change is real: erratic rainfall, global increase in temperature  Test more environments and more years as there is variation within a mega-environment and between years

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing Why the need?  Seed company needs performance data to enter the market in another country  Such testing demands careful planning, logistics and resources  Testing at All-India level is being done by DMR  Proposal: Asia-Regional Hybrid Testing

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing Approach  Types of trials  early to intermediate maturing hybrids  intermediate to late maturing hybrids  Each seed company submits hybrids  Size of each trial would be determined based on the demands  Each trial would be grown in 3 replications, 2 rows per plot

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing  Multi-location regional testing:  The number of sites and the locations would be determined based on the priorities expressed  Trial Coordination: done by Assumptions : the coordinator at CIMMYT will be fully funded by member companies;  * Risks for Sub-Project 3: for regional testing: import of seed for forming the trials and dispatch of trials (export) outside India requires tremendous logistical planning and effort due to existing import, export procedures.

Targeted Impact Why join the consortium? Elite lines: Field Day CIMMYT germplasm QPM, drought, low N, water logging, heat stress, ProA, Downy Mildew, broader adaptation …………… Seed Company Late maturity Rabi High Yield ……………….. “if available” Guaranteed Training Testing Network COST SHARING Early (generation) bird … Double Haploid + Molecular Markers Early generation lines Advanced lines Breeding synthetics

Hybrid Maize Research Consortium Sub-Projects  This is only a proposal  There is ample opportunity to panel beat this frame work

Modus operandi

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief)  Period of the project: 5 years (1 July June 2015)  CIMMYT will retain exclusive right on materials and publication of research information as international public goods  Membership Levels:  Gold Membership  Silver Membership  Silver members should graduate to gold membership within 2 years of their enrolment

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief)  Gold Member: gets 10 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry) and 50 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry) every year. Cost for additional lines will apply.  Silver Member: gets 5 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry) and 25 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry) every year. Cost for additional lines will apply.

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief)  Membership fee and use of materials received is restricted to only one country declared at time of membership  Hybrid Maize Research Consortium Advisory Committee  Five member  Two CIMMYT members, two gold members and one silver member  Elected Chairman will be a gold member  The three non-CIMMYT members will be elected annually

Sub-Project 2: Training Consortium Sub-Project 1: Germplasm Sub-Project 3: Testing Double Haploidy Molecular Breeding

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief) Gold MemberSilver Member 10 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry) 5 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry) 50 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry) 25 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry) Should graduate to gold membership within 2 years Gold MemberSilver Member Rs. 7 lakhs (USD 14,000) per yearRs. 3.5 lakhs (USD 7,000) per year Additional lines: USD 100 per lineAdditional lines: USD 200 per line  Membership fees are along the lines of ICRISAT’s millet and sorghum consortia  At USD 6 (Rs 300) per row (conservative estimation)  1 ha = 2500 rows x 6 = USD 15,000 (7.5 lakhs)