Maize & Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala, Sahiwal

Following are the research activities performed at Maize & Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala, Sahiwal

Maize

Maize OPVs

• Maintenance/ improvement of base populations
• Evaluation of local, national (NUMYT) and international (CIMMYT) material
• Production of BNS, pre-basic, basic and certified seed

Maize Hybrid

• Maintenance and derivation of yellow maize inbred lines
• Derivation of white maize inbred lines
• Derivation of sweet corn inbred lines
• Derivation of popcorn inbred lines
• Screening / development of germplasm against stalk rot and heat stress
• Constitution of new single cross hybrids
• Evaluation of new hybrids in preliminary, micro, macro and hybrid yield trials
• Development of inducer lines with high induction rate under local environmental conditions
• Evaluation of national (NUMYT) & international (CIMMYT) material
• Seed multiplication of inbred lines for promising maize hybrid constitution
• Seed production of single cross maize hybrids
• Demonstration / on-farm testing of promising hybrids

Sorghum

• Maintenance of gene pool
• Maintenance of cytoplasmic male sterile (A) lines
• Development of cytoplasmic male sterile (A) lines
• Maintenance of fertility restorer (R) lines
• Development of dual purpose sweet sorghum varieties
• Constitution of varietal crosses
• Filial generation studies
• Constitution of sorghum hybrids
• Sorghum hybrid yield trial

Pearl Millet

• Maintenance of gene pool
• Maintenance of cytoplasmic male sterile (A) lines
• Maintenance of fertility restorer (R) lines
• Derivation of fertility restorer (R) lines
• Constitution of pearl millet hybrids
• Development of dual purpose pearl millet varieties
• Constitution of varietal crosses
• Pearl millet varietal yield trial

    a.Evaluation of pearl millet varietiesin national (NUMYT) and on-farm yield trials
    b.Production of BNS, pre-basic, basic and certified seed

Agronomy

• Standardization / finding of optimum plant spacings for different OPV’s and hybrids of maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops for getting maximum and economical yields
• Standardization / finding of optimum number of irrigations (delta of water) for maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops for getting maximum and economical yields
• Testing of new herbicides against weeds in maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops

Soil Chemistry

Standardization of fertilizer doses for maize, sorghum & pearl millet crops for obtaining economical returns.

Plant Pathology

• Testing of maize hybrids /OPVs against stalk rot
• Testing of different seed dressing fungicides against diseases

Entomology

• Testing of different seed dressing insecticidesagainst shoot fly.
• Testing of spray able insecticides for the control of maize and sorghum borer