Background:
North Eastern Plains Zone comprising the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and east UP has nearly 8.56 lakh hectare area under kharif maize production which produce approximately 21.82 lakh tonns maize. The productivity of this zone is far below (2388 kg) to the national average productivity (3195 kg). This region of the country face excessive rains during kharif season or drought or sometimes both, occurred in the same crop season which is the major factor for low maize productivity. Most of the maize crop grown in this zone is rainfed. The long duration hybrids are also not suitable in this ecology due to delayed maturity which affects sowing of rabi crops. Therefore, developing medium duration and high yielding hybrids can address this issue very effectively:
Technology Details:
The parental lines of the hybrid are highly diverse and heterotic hence the cross combination has resulted in high yielding single cross hybrid which consistently recorded yield of 7.23 t/ha across zones and locations with a potential yield up to 9.0 t/ha. This medium maturity single cross hybrid shown significant yield superiority (13.05 %) over the relevant best check. This hybrid has recorded resistant reaction to major diseases in the zone under artificial inoculated conditions:
Name of crop/ variety Maize: IMH 224 (IMHSB 19K-2), Parentage IML 22 × IML 16, Year of release 2022, Gazette Notification Details S.O. 4065 (E) S.N.73, Dated 31st August, 2022, Yield (t/ha) 7.230 t/ha, Season Kharif, Maturity Group Medium (89 days), Reaction to major diseases and insects, This hybrid is moderately resistant to Maydis Leaf Blight, Turcicum Leaf Blight, Charcoal Rot and resistant to Fusarium Stalk Rot; under artificial epiphytotic conditions at hot-spots locations with a score of 4.8, 4.1, 4.4 and 2.8 respectively. The hybrid IMH 224 showed Moderately resistance to Chilo partellus on Mean LIR 4.5. Also found moderately resistant to Fall armyworm on mean LIR 3.8:
Other remarks This medium maturity single cross hybrid shown significant yield superiority (13.05 %) over the relevant best check in North Eastern Plains Zone during three years of testing in AICRP trials of maize. This hybrid is responsive to high inputs.