IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria \u2013 Maize farmers in West and Central Africa (WCA) could soon enjoy increased harvests and reduced crop losses due to Striga with the introduction of two new resistant varieties \u2014 TZLComp1Syn W-1 (Sammaz 16) and IWDC2SynF2 (Sammaz 15) \u2014 developed by IITA in partnership with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sammaz 16, a late-maturing maize variety, produces 3.2 tons per hectare under heavy Striga<\/em> conditions. Even under extreme infestation, harvest loss from this variety is less than 10%. It also exhibits significantly less Striga<\/em> damage and supports fewer emerged parasites than the susceptible farmers’ varieties. It also has good plant and ear qualities and is highly-tolerant to root and stalk lodging. The crop could be harvested within 110-120 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other h and, Sammaz 15, an intermediate-maturing variety, could yield 4.42 tons per hectare, which is 23% higher than the average production of local varieties under Striga<\/em> infestation. Aside from being resistant to the pest, Sammaz 15 is also highly-tolerant to root and stalk lodging, has good ear and plant aspects, and excellent husk cover. The crop is ready for harvest 100-110 days after planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The varieties, which have been released early this month, were tested in crop trials conducted by IITA and IAR in Northern Nigeria. \u201cThe results of trials of Sammaz 15 and Sammaz 16 show great potential for increased maize production not only in Nigeria but also in other countries in the WCA Region by cutting losses due to Striga<\/em> and, consequently, boosting farmers’ incomes,\u201d says Abebe Menkir, IITA maize breeder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the moist savannah of coastal and central Sub-Saharan Africa, Striga<\/em>, or witch-weed, causes maize yield losses amounting to about US$ 7 billion yearly and adversely affecting the livelihoods and food security of more than 130 million people dependent on the crop in these regions. The parasitic plant is endemic in Africa and constitutes the most important biotic constraint to cereals production, with infested areas estimated between 21 to 50 million hectares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are several options available for the control of Striga<\/em> in maize, but the most economically-feasible, easily accessible, safe and sustainable approach is the use of resistant or tolerant cultivars that resource-poor farmers can cultivate solely or in combination with cultural management options as well as in rotation with legumes that promote suicidal Striga germination,\u201d adds Menkir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the past few years, buoyed by the recent global food crisis, maize have seen a significant increase in dem and, with utilization of the crop for food, feed and other industrial uses hitting well over 100 million tons per annum. Africa produces about 26 million tons of maize annually, with Nigeria contributing about 7 million tons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ###<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter :<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abebe Menkir, a.menkir@cgiar.org<\/a> Jeffrey T. Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org<\/a> Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org<\/a> Bureau de la communication \u00c0 propos de l'IITA IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria \u2013 Maize farmers in West and Central Africa (WCA) could soon enjoy increased harvests and reduced crop losses due to Striga with the introduction of two new resistant varieties \u2014 TZLComp1Syn W-1 (Sammaz 16) and IWDC2SynF2 (Sammaz 15) \u2014 developed by IITA in partnership with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, Nigeria.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":12893,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"science-area":[],"program":[],"location":[32],"news-type":[],"hub":[],"crop":[68],"impact-areas":[],"item-year":[186],"class_list":["post-12908","news-item","type-news-item","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","location-nigeria","crop-maize","item-year-186"],"yoast_head":"\n
S\u00e9lectionneur de ma\u00efs
Si\u00e8ge de l'IITA
Ibadan, Nig\u00e9ria<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charg\u00e9 de communication d'entreprise (international)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charg\u00e9 de la communication d'entreprise (Afrique de l'Ouest)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IITA \u2013 Si\u00e8ge
Ibadan, Nig\u00e9ria<\/p>\n\n\n\n
L'Afrique a des probl\u00e8mes complexes qui minent l'agriculture et la vie des populations. Nous d\u00e9veloppons des solutions agricoles avec nos partenaires pour lutter contre la faim et la pauvret\u00e9. Notre [mot manquant ou \u00ab prim\u00e9 \u00bb] recherche pour le d\u00e9veloppement<\/a> is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is an international non-profit R4D organization since 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the CGIAR<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"