Hybrid Maize Research Consortium

B. S. VivekAwareness Meeting

19 March 2010

Consortium

an association, partnership, or union of institutions

formed for the purpose of jointly engaging in a venture

requiring large resources of capital

Developing maize hybrids is a venture that requires …..

elite sources of germplasm (genetic variability)

skilled personnel (training)

an evaluation network (collaboration) and

resources

To be ahead in the game, tap into …

the power of informatics (computing)

molecular marker technology

But these technologies further raise the threshold of skill and resources

Courtesy: Paresh Verma

CIMMYT’s Comparative Advantage/Success Formula ……….

The CIMMYT Genebank

Close to 25,000 maize and teosinte accessions

CIMMYT’s Comparative Advantage/Success Formula ……….Deployment

Trainees Formal – 700 B Sc, M Sc and Ph D students

from 74 countries Informal – 10,000 researchers

Network National Agricultural Research Systems

(NARS), Advanced Research institutes (ARIs), Universities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and private seed companies

CIMMYT’s Comparative Advantage/Success Formula ……….

THE IMPACT Inbred lines, OPVs, hybrids, donor stocks

used world wide by both public and private partners

Maize varieties developed by CIMMYT and its partners cover half the area sown to improved varieties in non-temperate areas of the developing world

Farmer

Small

Medium

Big

National Regional

Multinational- Germplasm

- Training- Hybrid Testing Network

Seed Companies

CIMMYT+ Genebank

+ Training

+ Network–NARS

NGOs ARIs…

Private Seed Enterprises……CIMMYT’s perspective

Proposed Sub-Projects

Sub-Project 1: Germplasm development and distribution

Sub-Project 2: Training

Sub-Project 3: Evaluation of Hybrids

Sub Project 1: Development and distribution of inbred lines

Activity 1.1: Development & distribution of early generation pedigree bulks

Identify 3 high priority target environments and traits by a majority vote

CIMMYT identifies elite donor & recipient lines from its germplasm base

CIMMYT forms F1 derived F2 pops or multi-parent breeding synthetics for line extraction

F2, F3 or F4 bulks will be made available to collaborators

Collaborators extract own proprietary lines

Sub Project 1: Development and distribution of inbred lines

Activity 1.2: Development and distribution of advanced generation lines untested for combining ability but tested per se for specified target traits

F5, F6 or F7 inbred bulks from Activity 1.1 will be evaluated per se for target stresses. Advanced generations will be made available

Collaborators directly use these lines in combination with their own lines to generate proprietary hybrids

CIMMYT obtains feed-back from collaborators on line performance (per se and hybrid) for recycling into new pedigree breeding projects

Sub Project 1: Development and distribution of inbred lines Tapping into a broad germplasm base

Lines for target traits in target environments

Breeding populations will be non-heterotic

Selfing in heterotic sources has less probability of success

=> more effort and resources to identify good lines

Sub-Project 2: Training Lessons Learnt

CIMMYT gives germplasm

What to do with it?

How to do it?

Who (lack of trained personnel)?

Resources (too expensive to do breeding)?

Demand on resource persons

Inadequate

All critical breeding operations not supported

All operations back-stopped

CIMMYT germplasm

Irrelevance of objective

Lack of “ownership” of process and germplasm

Reduced impact due to low motivation, interest, accountability

Workshop / training course: Theory, quick, “learning by doing” absent, “devil lies in the detail”Seed Company

     

 Seed

Preparation  

     

  Planting  

     

  Selection  

     

  Pollination  

     

  Selection  

     

  Harvest  

     

  Data Analysis  

     

  Selection       

CIMMYT location  CIMMYT    

 

 

 Seed

Preparation      

         

  Planting      

         

  Selection      

         

  Pollination      

         

  Selection      

         

  Harvest      

         

  Data Analysis      

         

  Selection                 

Sub-Project 2: Training

Lessons Learnt

Collaborative Visits

Visiting Scientistships

Theory

Practice

Demand on resource persons

Inadequate

All critical breeding operations not supported

All operations back-stopped

CIMMYT germplasm

Irrelevance of objective

Lack of “ownership” of process and germplasm

Reduced impact due to low motivation and interest

Workshop / training course: Theory, quick, “learning by doing” absent, “devil lies in the detail”Seed Company

     

 Seed

Preparation  

     

  Planting  

     

  Selection  

     

  Pollination  

     

  Selection  

     

  Harvest  

     

  Data Analysis  

     

  Selection       

Sub-Project 2: Training

Lessons Learnt

Collaborative

Visits

Visiting Scientistships

CIMMYT location  CIMMYT     Seed Company  

 Seed

Preparation    Seed

Preparation  

           

  Planting     Planting  

           

  Selection     Selection  

           

  Pollination     Pollination  

           

  Selection     Selection  

           

  Harvest     Harvest  

           

  Data Analysis     Data Analysis  

           

  Selection     Selection             

Practice

Theory

Sub-Project 2: TrainingActivity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding ProgramsThe Approach Interested company grows a pre-determined

number of rows (e.g. 500 rows) of segregating (F2/F3) bulks/families

“company comfortable” % of proprietary germplasm (e.g. 50% proprietary, 50% CIMMYT).

Nursery is grown at a CIMMYT location (e.g. Hyderabad) for one season

Each participant’s nurseries are clearly marked and identified

CIMMYT coordinates/organizes all field operations

Sub-Project 2: TrainingActivity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding ProgramsThe Approach

Trainee supervises all crop operations (planting, pollination, selection, harvest, shelling, and data analysis) and makes selections while under constant technical supervision from CIMMYT

Selected advances remain the property of the concerned seed company and gets shipped back in its entirety to the company

Selection for the target environment - with duplicate evaluation nursery (single row, no pollination) at own target site.

Sub-Project 2: TrainingActivity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding ProgramsAdvantages Customized training given to the breeder keeping in

mind the needs of the company

The breeding objective is relevant to the trainee/company

Accountability: At the end of a season a tangible output (seed of advanced generation) is generated for the company

neither extra time nor money is spent on separate training or for a breeding advance

A breeding advance is generated under CIMMYT supervision while the trainee is being trained.

Sub-Project 2: TrainingActivity 2.1 Management of Maize Breeding ProgramsAdvantages

The breeding material remains proprietary

Especially suited to trainees from companies that are

small to medium in nature

wish to grow in the maize seed business through having their own portfolio of hybrid products

Sub-Project 2: TrainingActivity 2.2 Data Management

Genetic gain is a function of (NO, not a text book definition)

Selection intensity

Resource efficiency

=> make informed decisions: to do that, data turnaround is critical to breeding operations, especially that of maize

The elements of quick data turn around:

Fast data capture

Quick data analysis

Availability of visualization tools to finalize selection

Sub-Project 2: Training-Data ManagementCIMMYT is able to offer ….

Fieldbook-IMIS System Developed at CIMMYT Developed by maize breeders for maize

breeders Tailored to maize Excel based interface

Very flexible Power of Excel at user’s disposal

Back end database - International Maize Information System (IMIS)

Powerful in pedigree management

Sub-Project 2: TrainingActivity 2.2 Data Management

CIMMYT Data Manager spends 2 weeks with each seed company implementing Fieldbook-IMIS

Needs to be a fully funded position

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid TestingWhy the need? Unlike wheat, maize has genotype x

environment interaction

=> a hybrid good at a location need not be good at another location

Breeding for identified target environments is crucial to derive maximum return to investment

Climate change is real: erratic rainfall, global increase in temperature

Test more environments and more years as there is variation within a mega-environment and between years

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid TestingWhy the need?

Seed company needs performance data to enter the market in another country

Such testing demands careful planning, logistics and resources

Testing at All-India level is being done by DMR

Proposal: Asia-Regional Hybrid Testing

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid TestingApproach

Types of trials

early to intermediate maturing hybrids

intermediate to late maturing hybrids

Each seed company submits hybrids

Size of each trial would be determined based on the demands

Each trial would be grown in 3 replications, 2 rows per plot

Sub-Project 3: Hybrid Testing Multi-location regional testing:

The number of sites and the locations would be determined based on the priorities expressed

Trial Coordination: done by CIMMYT @*

@ Assumptions : the coordinator at CIMMYT will be fully funded by member companies;

* Risks for Sub-Project 3: for regional testing: import of seed for forming the trials and dispatch of trials (export) outside India requires tremendous logistical planning and effort due to existing import, export procedures.

Targeted Impact

Why join the consortium?

Elite lines: Field Day

CIMMYT germplasm

QPM, drought, low N, water logging, heat stress, ProA, Downy Mildew, broader adaptation ……………

Seed CompanyLate maturityRabiHigh Yield………………..

“if available”

Guaranteed

Training Testing Network

COST SHARINGEarly (generation) bird …

Double Haploid +Molecular Markers

Early generation linesAdvanced linesBreeding synthetics

Hybrid Maize Research Consortium Sub-Projects This is only a proposal

There is ample opportunity to panel beat this frame work

Modus operandi

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief) Period of the project: 5 years (1 July 2010-30

June 2015)

CIMMYT will retain exclusive right on materials and publication of research information as international public goods

Membership Levels:

Gold Membership

Silver Membership

Silver members should graduate to gold membership within 2 years of their enrolment

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief) Gold Member: gets 10 early generation bulks

(100 seeds per entry) and 50 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry) every year. Cost for additional lines will apply.

Silver Member: gets 5 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry) and 25 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry) every year. Cost for additional lines will apply.

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief) Membership fee and use of materials received

is restricted to only one country declared at time of membership

Hybrid Maize Research Consortium Advisory Committee

Five member

Two CIMMYT members, two gold members and one silver member

Elected Chairman will be a gold member

The three non-CIMMYT members will be elected annually

Sub-Project 2: Training

Consortium

Su

b-P

roject 1:

Germ

plasm

Sub-Project 3: Testing

Double Haploidy

Molecular Breeding

Proposed Conditions For Consortium Membership (In Brief)Gold Member Silver Member

10 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry)

5 early generation bulks (100 seeds per entry)

50 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry)

25 advanced generation lines (10-20 seeds per entry)

Should graduate to gold membership within 2 years

Gold Member Silver Member

Rs. 7 lakhs (USD 14,000) per year Rs. 3.5 lakhs (USD 7,000) per year

Additional lines: USD 100 per line Additional lines: USD 200 per line

Membership fees are along the lines of ICRISAT’s millet and sorghum consortia

At USD 6 (Rs 300) per row (conservative estimation) 1 ha = 2500 rows x 6 = USD 15,000 (7.5 lakhs)