Advances in Genetic Enhancement of Early and Extra-Early Maize for Sub-Saharan Africa

Dr. Baffour Badu-Apraku is a Principal Scientist, Maize Breeder and Quantitative Geneticist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). He has over thirty years of experience in agricultural research, development, and management in West and Central Africa. His major areas of focus include breeding, testing, and promotion of technology transfer especially the adoption of open-pollinated and hybrid varieties of normal endosperm maize, Quality Protein Maize, Pro-vitamin A and sustainable agronomic practices as well as seed production. Through his maize breeding program at IITA, several Striga-resistant, low soil nitrogen and drought-tolerant early and extra-early populations have been developed and are serving as invaluable sources of varieties and inbred lines for breeders of the sub region. Over the years, many early and extra-early Striga, drought and low soil nitrogen-tolerant varieties and hybrids have been developed in his program, formally released, and widely adopted by farmers in the sub region. The availability of the early and extra-early varieties and hybrids have created niches for maize production, consumption and improved food security in WCA.

Maize in West Africa: Importance and Production Constraints.- Climatology of Maize in West and Central Africa.- Anatomy and Physiology of Maize.- Pollination Techniques.- Population Improvement and Development of Open Pollinating Varieties.- Inbred and Hybrid Maize Development.- Heterotic Grouping, Testers, and Molecular Approaches in Hybrid Maize Production.- Breeding Quality Protein Maize (QPM).- Breeding for Striga Resistance.- Breeding for Drought Tolerance.- Breeding for Tolerance to Low Soil Nitrogen.- Breeding for Disease Resistance.- Breeding for Insect pest Resistance.- Genotype x Environment Interaction and Repeatability of Traits at the Biotic and Abiotic Screening Sites in West and Central Africa.- Selection Indices and Use of Secondary Traits.- Variety Testing and Release.- Commercialization of Early and Extra-early Maize and Impact on Maize Production and Productivity in West and Central Africa.- Current Perspectives and Future Challenges of Maize Improvement in West and Central Africa.