untitled
| MSI99P1544 | |
| Rummun, K. Govinden, N. Rughoo, M. | |
| Le développement d'une variété améliorée de maïs pour Rodrigues | |
| Periodical article | |
| 1992 | |
| Revue agric. sucr. Ile Maurice | |
| 71 (2/3), 158-163 | |
| Published 1993 | |
| Fr | |
| En Fr | |
| The maize Composite MSIRI 3A was developed by MSIRI from Rodrigues ecotypes for use in Rodrigues in lieu of the local varieties. Since it is susceptible to Maize streak virus (MSV), a disease of importance in Rodrigues, a population improvement project was launched in 1989 in order to improve the yield and especially, the resistance to MSV of the Composite. The level of the disease was first increased in a field by cropping maize continuously. Six cycles of recurrent mass selection were then effected in order to increase the frequency of resistance genes in the Composite. Resistant plants could be recognized from the fact that the virus does not develop on them and they show typical re sistant symptoms of a few broken streaks on a few leaves. The resistant plants were intercrossed. Rapid progress was obtained as evidenced by the level of resistance observed in a trial in Mauritius after only 3 cycles of selection. This is also an indication that resistance to MSV is controlled by a few genes at most. The excellent resistance was confirmed in another trial with the sixth and last cycle of selection. In the absence of the disease the Improved Composite gave 14 per cent higher yields in two trials in Mauritius, whereas in farmers' fields in Rodrigues, the 3rd cycle of the Composite gave 20 per cent higher yields than the local varieties. In another trial in Rodrigues where the level of the disease was moderate, the Improved Composite gave 34 per cent higher yields that the original Composite. The Improved Composite has therefore been released under the name MSIRI 3B. Seeds have been produced for distribution in Rodrigues as from the end of 1992. | |
| MAIZE VARIETIES BREEDING | |
| RODRIGUES | |
| Maize | |
| 1994-01-05 | |
| En | |
| LIB | |
| CAT | |
| FC |