Combining ability of extra-early maturing pro-vitamin A maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and performance of derived hybrids under Striga hermonthica infestation and low soil nitrogen.

Low soil nitrogen (low-N), Striga hermonthica infestation and vitamin A deficiency in normal endosperm maize are major challenges confronting maize production and nutrition of the people of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Development of pro-vitamin A (PVA) maize hybrids with combined resistance/tolerance to the two stress factors is crucial in mitigating the food insecurity and nutrition challenges resulting from low-N deficiency and Striga infestation. One hundred and fifty hybrids plus six hybrid checks were evaluated under low-N, Striga-infested and optimal conditions in Nigeria for two years.