Directorate of Maize Research Recommended varieties, package & practices and Roadmap of maize development in NE state Vinay Mahajan Principal Scientist Directorate of Maize Research Pusa Campus, New Delhi

Maize Development in NE Region Climate Change in NE Region and its affect on crop yield Adaptable maize hybrids Improved Agronomic practices Roadmap for Maize Development in NE Region Rich in Germplasm and Adaptability of Genotypes New Genetic Material and Seed Production Abiotic-Biotic factors Equipping Farmers with Latest Technology Biotechnology tools

Climate change in NE region Directorate of Maize Research Climate change in NE region Monthly Rainfall distribution over three block years of Jorhat region Reduction in total rainfall by 425 mm Change in shift in peak and spread of Rainfall

Rainfall pattern in different months of kharif season and different agro-climatic zones

Directorate of Maize Research Performance of checks for days to anthesis, days to silk and yield in their respective years of testing Days to anthesis Days to silk Yield (kg/ha)

Performance of maize in different zones

Assessment of Climate Change in NE region Climate change research, includes Key climate variables are Temperature fluctuations Erratic monsoon (intensity and frequency) Humidity Soil erosion Critical assessment of different crops/zones for vulnerability to climatic stresses and extreme events, especially of intra-seasonal variability of rainfall, temperature, disease severity etc Source: NESAC (2009), Shillong

Hybrids (Extra-Early) Suitable for NEH Hybrid/ Composite Yield (q/ha) Recommended area for cultivation Source for Seed Remarks Vivek Maize Hybrid 45 (2013) 60 UK, HP, J&K, NEH region & Identified for I,II,III,IV VPKAS, Almora Yellow, semi-flint, flat bold seed, tolerance to TLB & MLB Vivek Maize Hybrid 39 (2012) 58 UK, HP, J&K, NEH region Yellow, semi-flint, flat bold, tolerance to TLB Vivek Maize Hybrid 33 (2008) 57 Yellow, semi-flint, bold, tolerance to BLSB, BSDM Vivek Maize Hybrid 25 (2007) 55 Yellow, semi-flint, bold, tolerance to TLB

Hybrids/Composite (Extra-Early) Suitable for NEH Hybrid/ Composite Yield (q/ha) Recommended area for cultivation Source for Seed Remarks Vivek Maize Hybrid 21 (2007) 50 UK, HP, J&K, NEH region, Del, Pub, Har, West UP, AP, TN Mah, Kar VPKAS, Almora Yellow, semi-flint, bold, tolerance to TLB Pusa Extra-Early Hybrid 5 (2004) J&K, UK, NE, HP, Assam, Har, Pub, Ap, TN, Mah, Kar IARI, New Delhi Tolerance to TLB, MLB, ESR Composite Vivek Sankul Makka 35 (2009) 48 UK, HP, J&K, NEH region Yellow dent flat, tolerant to TLB

Vivek Maize Hybrid 45 Yield: 60 q/ha Adaptation: Zone I (UK, HP, J&K, NEH) Grain: Yellow, Semi-Flint, flat bold seed Maturity: 85-90 days Plant height : 200 cm Yield: 60 q/ha

Vivek Maize Hybrid 39 Yield: 56-58q/ha Adaptation: Zone I (UK, HP, J&K, NEH) Grain: Yellow with cap, Semi-Flint Maturity: 85-90 days Plant height : 180cm Yield: 56-58q/ha

Vivek Maize Hybrid 33 Yield: 55-57 q/ha Adaptation: Zone I (Hills of UK, HP, J&K and NEH) Grain: Yellow Dent flat, Tolerant to turcicum leaf blight Plant height : 200-210cm; Maturity: 88-90 days; Ear Shape: Conico-cylindrical; 1000-Gr Wt: 265 g Yield: 55-57 q/ha

Vivek Maize Hybrid 25 Yield: 60-65 q/ha Adaptation: Zone I (Himalayan hills up to 2200 m amsl) Grain: Yellow bold, semi-dent; Plant height: 200-225 cm; Maturity - 85-90 days; Highly tolerant to leaf blight (Highest: 2.3) Yield: 60-65 q/ha

Vivek Maize Hybrid 21 Yield: 55-60 q/ha Adaptation: Zone I, II & IV (Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab Western UP and Himalayan hills upto 2200m amsl Grain: Yellow Semi-dent; Tolerant to turcicum blight Plant height : 180-210 cm; Maturity: 85-90 days; Yield: 55-60 q/ha

Vivek Sankul Makka 35 Yield: 50-55 q/ha Adaptation: Zone I (UK, HP, J&K, NEH Region) Grain: Yellow Flint Maturity: 85-90 days Plant height : 177cm Yield: 50-55 q/ha

QPM Maize Hybrids Suitable NE Region Hybrid/ Composite Yield (q/ha) Recommended area for cultivation Source for Seed Remarks Vivek QPM 9 (2008) 55 Himalayan Region & Peninsular India VPKAS, Almora Yellow, semi-flint, perform better at low N HQPM 5 (2007) 58 All over the country CCS HAU, Karnal Orange, Flint, Resis. to MLB HQPM 1 (2007) 62 J&K, UK, HP, NE, Assam Yellow, Dent, Tol. to Frost/ cold, Resis. to MLB & Rust

Vivek QPM 9 First Extra- Early QPM version of Vivek Maize Hybrid 9 Adaptation: Uttarakhand Hills & Zone I & IV Grain: Yellow semi-flint Yield: 45-50 q/ha (Organic) 58-60 q/ha Zone I 50-55 q/ha Zone IV Maturity: 85-90days; Plant height : 210-215 cm

Babycorn Composites/ Hybrids Yield (q/ha) Recommended area for cultivation Source for Seed Remarks VL Babycorn 1 (2004) 70-80 q/ha (With Husk) 12-14 q/ha (Without husk) All over India VPKAS Almora, Uttarakhand Seed Yield: 38-40 q/ha, Early, Yellow HM 4 (2005) Seed Yield: 68 q/ha Across the country CCS HAU regional Center, Karnal Can be used as babycorn, Orange flint medium maturity

VL Babycorn-1 (Composite) Adaptation: Throughout the country Parentage: [(VL 16 X Murulia) x VL 16) X VL 16)] Highly prolific (2.5 - 3 ears/plant), conical shaped, straight ovary rows, creamy yellow, sweet and tolerant to turcicum blight and high plant density Babycorn yield – 12-13 q/ha + Green fodder yield – 300 q/ha Seed Yield: 40 q/ha First Babycorn composite Released for All India

Roadmap for Maize Development in NE Region

Rich in Germplasm and Adaptable Genotypes Diverse materials with several adaptive traits Local landraces have better adaptability Good combiners from local land races Genotypes can be preferably used as female line Utilisation of Near-Related species that offer natural tolerance to stresses Good Crossing ability among some Genus/ species Protecting and strengthening conservation programs of genetic diversity and special efforts on Farmer’s Participation for on-site preservation of local land races Adaptive traits differ according to the climatic conditions; emphasis on early and medium maturing hybrids

New Genetic Material and Seed Production Evaluation of AICMIP trials with new genetic materials and identification of promising adapted genotypes for the NE region Increase in the number of field evaluations: Multi- location evaluations over seasons Emphasis on hybrid seed production in mission mode approach Ensuring the timely availability of inputs like seed, fertilizers and other inputs even to the remote farmers

Climate change and Abiotic-Biotic factors Understanding climate change in NE region Crops and varieties are required to withstand unpredictable biotic and abiotic stresses Manage Limited / Excess water stress (anaerobic) Water lodging (germination/flowering/grain filling) Drought in winter season Monitoring of stresses: Intensity and Duration Germination & Seedling Establishment under prolonged high moisture condition (Anaerobic) Low-Nitrogen tolerance and increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency Disease resistance (BLSB, TLB) Recovery from the stress under field conditions

Equipping Farmers with Latest Technology Sensitizing the state agricultural officers on new and noval technologies in maize Assist and educate farmers in latest technology under changing climate Adapting new technology suitable farming systems Provide farmers with affordable genotypes and techniques Simultaneous scaling up of outputs through KVKs and the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture for wider adoption by the farmers

Marker Assisted Selection Vivek QPM 9 New breeding method based on genotypic selection Genetic architecture of the trait should decide ways of marker intervention (Rex Bernardo, 2008) In Genotype X environment interaction if genotype explains larger portion of variation then genetic markers can be used to select desirable phenotype; if phenotype is determined largely by environment then changes in agronomy are effective in producing desirable types Cross Segregating population Genotype phenotype QTL Gene discovery New variety Responsive genes Candidate genes

Saluting the variability of NE Region Thanks