Srinagar, Jan 21: A recently developed Maize Hybrid by SKUAST-K namely Shalimar Maize Hybrid -5 (SMH-5) has been identified for release in Jharkhand State under Area Extension Category, the hybrid is expected to cater to special needs of rainfed ecologies in Jharkhand which possess challenges like poor water availability, low soil fertility and aluminium toxicity. Derived from the cross between parental lines IML-14 and BML-6 which possess drought tolerance and good seed recovery respectively.
The hybrid is a candidate of choice for the challenges of rained maize cultivation on account of its earliness, yield stability, robust root system and better water and nutrient use efficiency. It shall prove a great boost to Maize production in Jharkhand which is now also being used in biofuel and high starch production. The hybrid is a result of the strong inter-institutional collaboration between SKUAST-K, IIMR-Ludhiana and IARI-Jharkhand.
Standing on the base of a very robust germplasm collection of more than 3000 lines in Field Corn/QPM/Pop Corn/Sweet Corn and Forage Maize, Srinagar Centre of AICRPM has developed 27 varieties of maize suitable for cultivation at the UT and National Level with inbuilt resilience to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Of late the focus of the centre has been to develop nutritionally enriched (QPM + ProVA) climate smart varieties and technologies utilizing the collaborative
approach involving disciplines like Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology etc.
Utilizing the services of an offseason facility at Hyderabad, two crops of maize are raised per year to hasten the breeding process. The centre has benefitted immensely from its Inter-Institutional Collaborat
Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai congratulated the AICRPM team at DARS, Rangreth for the development of the hybrid and emphasised on strengthening the improvement programme between SKUAST-K and other National Institutes to develop products for combating challenges like nutritional insecurity, erratic rainfall, pest/disease incidence etc.
