Genetic analysis of grain yield and related traits of extra-early orange maize inbred lines and their hybrids under drought and rain-fed conditions.

Background: Orange maize genotypes are sources of provitamin A (PVA) carotenoids, which are precursors of vitamin A. PVA deficiency and drought constitute major challenges causing increasing food and nutritional insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Breeding of drought-tolerant provitamin A hybrid maize can mitigate these challenges.

Enhancing Genetic Gains in Grain Yield and Efficiency of Testing Sites of Early-Maturing Maize Hybrids under Contrasting Environments.

The major challenges of maize production and productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) include infestation, recurrent drought, and low soil nitrogen (low N). This study assessed the following: (i) accelerated genetic advancements in grain yield and other measured traits of early-maturing maize hybrids, (ii) ideal test environments for selecting early-maturing multiple-stress tolerant hybrids, and (iii) high-yielding and stable hybrids across multiple-stress and non-stress environments. Fifty-four hybrids developed during three periods of genetic enhancement (2008-2010, 2011-2013, and 2014-2016) were evaluated in Nigeria, The Republic of Benin, and Ghana under multiple stressors ( infestation, managed drought, and Low N) and non-stress environments from 2017 to 2019.