2019 Product Announcement and Results of the Maize Regional Trials conducted by CIMMYT-Asia in 2017 and 2018

Each year, CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program conducts regional hybrid maize trials through a network of NARS and private seed companies in Asia under various management and environmental conditions (site summary attached in Appendix 4). These entries are compared evaluated against the performance of relevant checks from private seed companies and National Agricultural Research Programs. The objectives of these regional trials are:</br> 1. To identify improved maize hybrids with higher yield and agronomic performance suitable for target product profiles;</br> 2. To help partners identify improved maize hybrids that can potentially replace outdated, less productive, less resilient and/or less profitable commercial varieties in the market;</br> 3. To monitor the breeding progress and enhance regional genetic gains in maize breeding and product development; and</br> 4. To enrich and widen the genetic base of improved maize germplasm through germplasm exchange.</br> Details of Regional Trials conducted by CIMMYT in Asia in 2017 and 2018, are based on the below Target Product Profiles. </br> 1. Product profile 1 (Tropical Rainfed (with erratic/excess rainfall) (Appendix 2): Basic traits: Intermediate maturing, yellow, high yielding, tolerant to drought and waterlogging and resistant to TLB</br> Nice-to-have / emerging traits: FSR, BLSB, FAW CRT-3-8 – Intermediate maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trial (including external and internal checks). </br> 2. Product profile 2 (Tropical Rainfed Dry)(Appendix 3): Basic traits: Intermediate maturing, yellow, high yielding, tolerant to drought and heat and resistance to FSR</br> Nice-to-have / emerging traits: FAW, Charcoal Rot CRT-1&2 - Intermediate maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trial (including external and internal checks).