MLN Tolerant/Resistant germplasm

The vast majority of current commercial maize varieties grown in East Africa are susceptible under artificial MLN inoculation. Testing in Kenya in 2013 indicated that 122 out of 124 commercial maize varieties were extremely susceptible to MLN. Extensive screening of materials at the KALRO/CIMMYT MLN screening facility at Naivasha, Kenya indicates 90% of materials screened (over 62,000 entries) are susceptible to MLN.

Intensive breeding efforts are being undertaken by CIMMYT Global Maize Program and national maize breeding programs to develop new resistant or MLN-tolerant varieties.

A total of 9 MLN-tolerant/resistant hybrids have been either released or recommended for release so far in eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), of which four are at different stages of commercial seed scale-up and commercialization

MLN-tolerant hybrids released / recommended for release / under NPTs in east Africa (as of Feb 2017).

Country

CIMMYT-derived MLN-tolerant Hybrid

Year of Release

Released by

Seed Company

Status

Kenya CKMLN150074 2019 Seed Co. Ltd Seed Co. Ltd Recommended  for release through Seed Co. Ltd
Kenya WE7117 2018 KALRO KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE7118 2018 KALRO KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE7119 2018 KALRO KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE5135 2017 KALRO Second generation MLN-tolerant hybrid recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE5136 2017 KALRO Second generation MLN-tolerant hybrid recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE5138 2017 KALRO Second generation MLN-tolerant hybrid recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE5139 2017 KALRO Second generation MLN-tolerant hybrid recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE5140 2017 KALRO Second generation MLN-tolerant hybrid recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya KATEH15-01 2017 KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya KATEH15-02 2017 KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya KATEH15-03 2017 KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE6109 2016 KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya WE6110 2016 KALRO Recommended  for release through KALRO
Kenya H13ML 2014 KSC KSC Bulking of breeder seed in progress; commercialization possible in 2017/2018
Kenya H12ML 2013 KSC KSC Released in 2013. KSC will produce basic seed in 2016, and expect to commercialize the hybrid in 2017. Promotion of the hybrid in progress
Kenya WE6111 NPT2
Kenya WE6108 NPT2
Tanzania WE5135 2019 COSTEC COSTEC Recommended  for release through COSTEC
Tanzania WE7118 2019 COSTEC COSTEC Recommended  for release through COSTEC
Tanzania WE5141 2019 COSTEC COSTEC Recommended  for release through COSTEC
Tanzania WE7133 2019 COSTEC COSTEC Recommended  for release through COSTEC
Tanzania Meru HB607 2014 Meru-Agro Meru-Agro Released in 2014. The company is planning to produce basic seed in 2016 and commercialize the hybrid in 2017. Promotion on progress.
Tanzania WE6108 NPT2
Tanzania WE5136 NPT2
Tanzania WE5139 NPT2
Tanzania WE5141 NPT2
Uganda Bazooka (UH5354) 2014 NARO NASECO Released in 2013, and already being commercialized. Over 20 tons of certified seed harvested by Aug 2015; Being commercialized by NASECO
Uganda WE6108 NPT2
Uganda WE5136 NPT2
Uganda WE5139 NPT2
Uganda WE5141 NPT2

Second Generation MLN Tolerant/ Resistant Hybrids

Eleven different second-generation CIMMYT-derived MLN resistant hybrids are presently under NPTs in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.  These have  higher levels of MLN resistance  to the first generation hybrids, with much lesser yield loss under severe MLN incidence (as tested at Naivasha screening site under artificial inoculation).