Registration of striga-resistant tropical extra- early maize population

An extra-early maturing white-grained, flint/dent maize (Zea mays L.) population, TZEE-W Pop STR C4 (Reg. No. GP-576; PI 657704), has been developed at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. The population has moderate levels of resistance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. It was released in 2004 in west and central Africa as source germplasm for the development of synthetic varieties, parental inbred lines, and hybrids with improved resistance to Striga and superior grain yield. It is also drought tolerant with good levels of resistance to maize streak virus and southern corn leaf blight [caused by Bipolaris maydis (Nisikado & Miyake) Shoemaker]. Results of trials at three locations in Nigeria and Benin Republic, 2006 and 2007, showed that under Striga-infested conditions, the cultivars 2004 TZEE-W Pop STR C4, derived from C4 of TZEE-W Pop STR, and TZEE-W Pop × LD (Set A2), were the most promising in terms of grain yield, low levels of Striga damage and Striga emergence. TZEE-W Pop STR C4 outyielded the Striga-susceptible check by 43% under Striga infestation and 33% when Striga-free. In another trial with 16 normal and quality protein maize (QPM) varieties evaluated at 10 Striga-free locations, TZEE-W Pop STR C4 outyielded the normal local check by 24% and the QPM reference check by 18%