Indian Journal of Plant Genetic Resources

Maizeisone of the three most important food grain crops in the world. It is utilized as human food, livestock and poultry feed, industrial raw material and as fodder. In India, it occupies third position among food grains with respect to production and productivity, and ranks fifth for the area under cultivation.

The All-India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project, the first multi-centre, multi-disciplinary project of unique nature, was established in 1957. The project has made outstanding contributions not only in maize improvement but also in thedevelopment of similar research projects in other crops/disciplines. The project focused on hybrid breeding and released eight hybrids during 1961 to 1964. However, due to less than expected impact of these hybrids and the problems faced in their seed production, the breeding strategy was reassessed, and composite breeding was prioritized. A first set of composites (six) was released in 1967. Upto 1972, 21 cultivars were released which generally possessed late maturing. During 1970s the breeding programme was again assessed and reoriented towards early maturity. Further, intra-population improvement was undertaken on a vast scale to develop composites particularly early maturing. Consequently, hybrid breeding was discontinued with the exception of a few research centers. During 1980s emphasis was shifted back to hybrid breeding with a focus on the single crosses. Apparently there have been sharp turns in the breeding strategies and priorities.

Indian maize breeding programme has a very strong linkage with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico, and CIMMYT's maize germplasm has been extensively used by the Indian programme. CIMMYT has not only liberally supplied germplasm but has also significantly contributed in the development of human resources and has, thereby, markedly influenced breeding strategies and objectives of the Indian programme. To exploit the emerging opportunities, maize breeding needs to be focussed on specific adaptation, for example, development of input responsive hybrids (specifically single crosses) for favourable environments, and early maturing hybrids and composites possessing tolerance to stresses like low nutrient supply and extreme moisture and temperature regimes for other environments. The cultivars must possess high yield, stability of performance, multiple resistancel tolerance to biotic/abiotic stresses and appropriate maturity. Breeding efforts in special maize types (high oil, quality protein, pop, sweet, baby, specialized starch) and more specifically in winter maize and in fodder maize need to be strengthened and streamlined. Last but not least, there is an urgent need to upgrade the research in maize biotechnology in the areas like development of transgenics for biotic and abiotic stresses, marker assisted selection and prediction of hybrid performance; and integrate the same with maize breeding.