In sub-Saharan Africa, maize is a staple crop but yields remain sub-optimal. A novel hybrid seed technology offers the opportunity to reduce seed production costs and increase yields. This dataset contains data from on-farm and on-station trials collected in 2017 to 2019 in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe to assess this hybrid seed production technology. The results of the analysis are presented in the accompanying article.
Conservation agriculture (CA) is based on minimal tillage, permanent soil cover and crop diversification. The data in this study were collected in a field trial network established to adapt CA to Mexico’s diverse cropping systems and local conditions. Soil health was studied in 20 trials with maize (Zea mays L.) in acro-ecologies ranging from handplanted traditional systems to intensive irrigated systems, initiated between 1991 and 2016. Soil in CA was compared to the local conventional practice, commonly involving tillage, residue removal and continuous maize. Samples for lab analysis were collected at 0-5 cm and 5-30 cm. Soil health parameters measured were organic matter, P concentration, interchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, Na and K), micronutrients (B, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn), S, nitrates, soil texture, electrical conductivity and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates after dry and wet sieving. Measurements of physical soil health in the field included time-to-pond and penetration resistance with a dynamic penetrometer.
CIMMYT and its network of collaborators in Mexico, conducted a series of experiments across agroecological zones of Mexico in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the effect of different storage technologies on postharvest losses of maize. Experiments were conducted under “controlled” (i.e., managed by researchers) and “non-controlled” conditions (i.e., on-farm managed by extension agents). Each experiment compared the conventional storage technology (polypropylene bag with and/or aluminum phosphide or deodorized malathion) commonly used by farmers in the area to one or more other storage technologies (selected from hermetic metal silos, hermetic bags, recycled plastic containers, silage plastic bags, polypropylene bag with standard lime-calcium hydroxide- polypropylene bag with micronized lime). Data collected at the beginning and the end of each experiment included: (1) characteristics of the site of experiments (elevation, municipality, state, type of climate); (2) storage technologies evaluated; (3) grain characteristics (type of variety-hybrid or native-, moisture content, temperature); (4) grain damage data (percentage of grain impurities, percentage of insect-damaged grain, percentage of fungi-damaged grain, percentage of total damage, weight losses); (5) number of live insects per 500 g of sample (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, Prostephanus truncatus Horn, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier); (6) storage time (in days and months) and average climatic data during storage period (minimum and maximum temperature, minimum and maximum relative humidity).
Gray leaf spot (GLS) is a major maize foliar disease in sub-Saharan Africa that can substantially reduce yields for farmers. This dataset contains supporting phenotypic and genotypic data used in the analysis of the genetic architecture of GLS resistance in maize. The data in this paper relate to several different sets of germplasm: (1) The IMAS (Improved Maize for Africa Soils) panel with 430 lines assembled from diverse breeding programs from Africa, Asia and Latin America. (2) A DH population developed from crossing CML550 with CML494; (3) A DH population developed from crossing CML550 with CML504; (4) A DH population developed from crossing CML550 with CML511; and (5) several F3 populations The IMAS panel is a good source for genetic studies on resistance for several maize diseases and also for abiotic stress like low N conditions. The DH populations are a good source for low N discovery studies as well as for MLN and other disease resistance studies.
The study shows the database made from interviews conducted in Texcoco, Mexico during April, May and June 2019. The objective of the study was to understand consumer preferences and consumption and purchasing habits for white and blue maize tortillas.
The summary results of the Regional Trials for CIMMYT Maize Hybrids in Southern Africa for 2017. The trials include EHYB17 - Early maturing hybrids. IHYB17 - Medium maturing hybrids. WEHYB17 - Early and medium maturing WEMA hybrids. LHYB17 - Late maturing hybrids. WLHYB17 - Medium and late maturing WEMA hybrids. ADVQPM17 - QPM hybrids.
New and improved maize hybrids, developed by the CIMMYT Global Maize Program, are available for uptake by public and private sector partners, especially those interested in marketing or disseminating hybrid maize seed across Southern Africa and similar agro-ecological zones. Following a rigorous trialing and a stage-gate advancement process CIMMYT advanced a set of new elite maize hybrids in Southern Africa in 2018. Phenotypic data collected in Stage 4 trials for the selected hybrids as well as information about the trial sites are provided in this dataset. These trials were conducted through a network of partners, including NARES and private seed companies, in Southern Africa under various management and environmental conditions.
New and improved maize hybrids, developed by the CIMMYT Global Maize Program, are available for uptake by public and private sector partners, especially those interested in marketing or disseminating hybrid maize seed across Eastern Africa and similar agro-ecological zones. Following a rigorous trialing and a stage-gate advancement process CIMMYT advanced a set of new elite maize hybrids in Eastern Africa in 2018. Phenotypic data collected in Stage 4 trials for the selected hybrids as well as information about the trial sites are provided in this dataset. These trials were conducted through a network of partners, including NARES and private seed companies, in Eastern Africa under various management and environmental conditions. The summary results of the Regional Trials for CIMMYT Maize Hybrids in Eastern Africa for 2017. The trials include: EHYB17-Set I – Early/extra-early maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trials (including external and internal checks); IHYB17-Set I – Intermediate maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trial (including external and internal checks); ILHYB17 – Intermediate-Late maturing elite pre-released and released hybrids regional trials (including external and internal checks); EHYB17-Set II – Early maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trials; ILHYB17 Set II – Intermediate/late maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trials.
New and improved maize hybrids, developed by the CIMMYT Global Maize Program, are available for uptake by public and private sector partners, especially those interested in marketing or disseminating hybrid maize seed across eastern and southern Africa and similar agro-ecological zones. Following a rigorous trialing and a stage-gate advancement process CIMMYT advanced new elite maize hybrids in eastern and southern Africa in 2019. Phenotypic data collected in trials for the selected hybrids as well as information about the trial sites are provided in this dataset. These trials were conducted through a network of partners, including NARES and private seed companies, in eastern and southern Africa under various management and environmental conditions. The summary results of the Regional Trials for CIMMYT Maize Hybrids in Eastern Africa for 2018 specific to different product profiles. The trials include: IHYB18 – Intermediate maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trial: Product profile 1A (Eastern Africa) - Basic traits (Intermediate maturing, white, high yielding, drought tolerant, NUE, and resistant to GLS, TLB, Ear rots, and MSV); Nice to have/emerging traits (MLN, Striga, FAW). MLN 3WAY HYB18 - Intermediate maturing elite pre-commercial MLN 3way hybrids regional trial: Product profile 1B (Eastern Africa): Basic traits (Intermediate-maturing, white, high-yielding, drought tolerant, NUE, resistant to MLN, MSV, TLB); Nice to have/ emerging traits (FAW, Striga). ILHYB18 – Intermediate-Late maturing elite pre-released and released hybrids regional trials: Product profile 2 (Eastern Africa) - Basic traits (Late-maturing, white, high-yielding, Drought tolerance, NUE, and resistant to GLS, TLB, MSV Ear Rots, and rust); Nice to have/ Emerging traits (FAW, MLN, Striga). EHYB18 – Early/extra-early maturing elite pre-commercial hybrids regional trials: Product profile 3 (Eastern Africa) - Basic Traits (Early-maturing, white, high-yielding, Drought tolerant, and resistant to MSV and MLN, NUE); Nice to have traits (Heat tolerant, TLB, Rust, Striga). Pro-A HYBSI7; Pro-A HYBSI8- Intermediate maturing elite pre-commercial Provitamin A hybrids regional trial: Product profile 3 (Southern Africa)- Basic traits (Nutritious maize, early-late maturity, orange and/ white, high yield, high pvA, high Zn, high Lysine and tryp, tolerance to drought, low N, heat and low soil pH stresses and tolerance to MSV, GLS, TLB and cob rot);Nice to have traits (MLN, FAW, Downy mildew, aflatoxin, rust, organoleptic test, bioavailability, suitability for value-added products).
