Identification of early and extra-early maturing tropical maize inbred lines resistant to in sub-Saharan Africa.

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) incited by the fungus is a foliar disease that significantly limits maize production and productivity in West and Central Africa (WCA), particularly in the mid-altitudes but during the last decade it has become a menace in lowland agro-ecologies. The most economical and environmentally friendly disease management strategy is the cultivation of maize varieties resistant or tolerant to NCLB. However, no early maturing (EM) and extra-early maturing (EEM) NCLB resistant varieties are commercially available in WCA.