Evaluation of new generations of maize streak virus (msv) resistant varieties for grain yield, agronomic potential and adaptation to a southern guinea savanna ecology of Nigeria

Abstract

Five new generations of maize streak virus (MSV) resistant varieties were evaluated along with two checks in replicated trials and for two years in a southern guinea savanna ecology of Nigeria, which is an endemic zone for the disease. Difference in grain yield between favourable growing season in 2002 and unfavourable season in 2001 was 1.68 t/ha -1 , representing 30.2% yield increase of 2001 performance. Results further showed that while both rust and streak diseases appeared to have been put in check, the genotypes showed slight susceptibility to leaf blight and curvularia leaf spot, ranging from 5-7 and 4-8 percent (%) respectively. Genotypic differences were significant for grain yield, agronomic traits as well as incidences of leaf blight and curvularia leaf spot. Acr 91 Suwan-1-SR C 1 was the most productive of new generations of MSV resistant varieties, having yielded significantly higher than OPV check by 32 percent (%) and comparable with the hybrid check for grain yield. The variety could therefore serve as replacement to existing cultivar and also as source of genes for future maize breeding activities in the development of superior maize varieties for the southern guinea savanna ecology.

Combining Ability of Adapted and Exotic Drought-tolerant Maize Inbred Lines Under Full Irrigation and Rainfed Conditions in Nigeria

“…In addition, the crop is being challenged annually by infections from common foliar diseases such as maize streak, common rust, northern corn leaf blight, and maize leaf spots caused by Curvularia lunata, whose cumulative effects often reduce maize productivity significantly. These diseases are not prevalent in irrigated maize fields during the dry seasons because the tropical warm and humid conditions that increase their inoculum (Carson et al 2004;Alakonya et al 2008;Olaoye 2009) are not always present.…”

“…In the rainforest agroecology of Nigeria, maize is highly prone to attacks by common cosmopolitan diseases like common rust caused by Puccinia sorghi, northern corn leaf blight caused by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum (formerly known as Helminthosporum turcicum), maize leaf spots caused by Curvularia lunata, and maize leaf streak. The diseases that thrive under warm, humid conditions that are peculiar to the tropics (Carson et al 2004;Alakonya et al 2008;Olaoye 2009) can substantially reduce the performance of elite maize hybrids. The adoption of new hybrids in the zone will largely depend on their levels of resistance to these diseases.…”

Genetic gains in three breeding eras of maize hybrids under low and optimum nitrogen fertilization

“…Development and release of maize cultivars for different agro-ecologies started with introgression of genes for high grain yield, pest and disease resistance Fakorede et al, 1993;Olaoye, 2009) to adaptation to different ecologies and stress factors (Kim, 1997). By the year of 1962, estimated gains in grain yield were between 1.5 and 2.5 t ha -1 (43.71%) approximating 1.4 to 2.4% gains per year from 1950 .…”

Perception of Maize Processors Towards Utilization of Maize Value Addition Techniques: Implications for Rural Entrepreneurship Development – A Study in Nigeria

“…It ranks third to rice and wheat as the most important cereal crop and staple food in Africa (Akande and Lamidi, 2006;Mboya, 2011). It is the most widely distributed world's plant which is produced more annually than any other grain.…”