A High Yielding Multiple Disease Resistant TNAU Maize Hybrid Co 6 for Tamil Nadu

Abstract

TNAU maize hybrid Co 6 (CMH-08-282) is a high yielding single cross hybrid (UMI 1200 x UMI 1230) and matures in 110 days. It is suited for cultivation both under irrigated (June - July & November - December) and rainfed (September - October) conditions. A total of 100 adaptive research trials, 16 multi location trials, 138 on farm trials, 9 station trials and 49 All India trials were conducted with single cross hybrid CoH(M) 5 as check and popular private maize hybrids viz., 900 M (G ) and NK 6240 as checks. Under irrigated condition, it recorded a mean grain yield of 7359 kg/ha with 28.2, 10.6 and 8.2 per cent increased grain yield over the existing hybrid Co(H)M 5 (5739 Kg/ha), 900 M (G) (6656 Kg/ha) and NK 6240 (6803 Kg/ha) respectively. Under rainfed conditions the same hybrid recorded a mean grain yield of 4906 kg/ha with 16.6, 19.0 and 21.6 per cent increased grain yield over checks viz., CoH(M) 5 (4209 Kg/ha), 900 M (G) (4121 Kg/ha) and NK 6240 (4034 Kg/ha) respectively. It recorded a highest yield of 13273 Kg/ha (JH Agri, Bangalore) and 19 tonnes of fodder under irrigated condition. It exhibited a multiple disease resistance against the Sorghum downy mildew, Turcicum leaf blight and Post flowering stock rot and moderately resistant to stem borer. It possesses high starch (76.30 %), high protein (11.25%) and high beta-carotein (0.48 mg/100g) with moderate level of fat (4.65 %) and crude fibre (1.25%) than the check hybrids. Grains are bold, orange yellow, semi dent in texture. It recorded a high shelling (81%) with high test weight (400 g /1000 seeds). Hybrid seed production is much easier since male and female parents can be sown simultaneously for flowering synchronization. In view of high yielding with stable performance across environments, it has been released as new hybrid during 2012 for commercial exploitation in the state of Tamil Nadu.