Regional Hybrid Maize Trials
39. Dr. S.K. Vasal presented the results of the Regional Hybrid Maize Trials for 1997 and 1998. He pointed out that the coordinated hybrid maize trials are an important activity of TAMNET. The entries are mostly hybrids contributed by both public and private sector including a few entries from CIMMYT. The trials are structured on maturity differences. During 1997, two TAMNET hybrid trials were organized and carried out in different countries. The early hybrid trial consisted of 16 entries and the late one of 20 entries. The trial results were encouraging. In the early hybrid trial two hybrids from Pro-Agro India performed very well occupying first and third rank with a yield level of slightly more than 8 tons per hectare. Two hybrids from the Kasetsart University also performed very well (KTXE3904 with 8.05 tons/ha and KSE3901 with 7.45 tons/ha). The hybrid from Vietnam LVN17 (TX) BM (SD) ranked fifth 7.49 tons/ha) in performance. The performance of CIMMYT hybrid was also comparable (7.26 tons/ha). In late hybrid trial, the CIBA Geigy hybrid G5445A was the highest performing entry in the whole trial with a good stability of performance. Two Kasetsart hybrids SW3601 and KSX3905 including the regional check (also KU hybrid) also performed quite well with yield levels of 7.66, 7.23 and 7.20 tons/ha respectively. The hybrid from Indonesia STJ9614 also gave good performance ranking sixth with a yield level of 7.05 tons/ha. In 1998 two TAMNET hybrid trials were organized and carried out. The early trial consisted of 17 entries and the late trial of 27 entries. Twenty sets of each trial have been sent to both public and private institutions in different countries. Beginning of 1998, TAMNET activities were strengthened with inclusion of several new initiatives such as announcement of maize inbred lines, availability of S3 selfed progeny bulks, distribution of inbred line evaluation nurseries, in-country refresher courses on hybrid maize technology and seed production, and sponsoring participation and visits of maize researchers to scientific meetings.
TAMNET Newsletter
40. Dr. N.N. Singh mentioned that the aim of the Newsletter is to disseminate information on maize research and development to maize workers in the Region. Two issues of the Newsletter are published annually. He stressed that the success of the TAMNET Newsletter depends to a great extent on the cooperation of the fellow maize workers. A decision has been taken during the Second TAMNET Meeting that the collection of articles and distribution of Newsletter issues should be the responsibility of the National TAMNET Coordinator of each country. However, the response to this decision has not been satisfactory up to the present, and this has severely handicapped the efforts to publish information from different TAMNET member countries. He requested the participants of the member countries to maximize their efforts in this direction in order to make the Newsletter more purposeful.
