Biomass and Seed Yield of Maize with Effective Tillering Trait: CRTM-2

Abstract

Maize genotype with effective tillers was developed from a natural mutant with ineffective tillers at Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, India. Teosinte (Zea mays ssp. luxurians), African tall (fodder maize) and Harsha (composite) were included for development of CRIDA tillering maize viz., CRTM-2. Single plant of CRTM- 2 had five effective tillers similar to Teosinte, with a total height of 1223.5 cm, 62.0 leaves and 25.8 filled cobs. CRTM-2 showed an increase of 530.3, 423.7 and 2086.0% over Harsha, 388.0, 315.8 and 2350 % over African tall and 15.5, 34.1 and -53.0 % over teosinte, for plant height, number of leaves and number of filled cobs respectively averaged over four seasons viz., 2016 (kharif and rabi), 2017 kharif and 2018 kharif. CRTM-2 had tillers like teosinte and the shape of cobs and seed type of maize. The percentage of superiority of CRTM-2 for seed yield /plant was 227.8%, 27.4% and 22.5% over Teosinte, African tall and Harsha respectively. It also showed superiority for total biomass. It was 102.7%, 21.5% and 63.5% over Teosinte, African tall and Harsha respectively. This tillering maize can be source material for innovative concept of developing new tillering maize varieties with effective cobs and significantly higher productivity and production of feed, fodder and food for animals, poultry and humans apart from industrial uses.