Hey there, maize enthusiasts! Are you all ready to dive into the fascinating world of maize genetics? From its humble beginnings, maize has come a long way to become a power crop. In recent years, Indian scientists have made significant strides in maize genetics.
Maize is a vital crop in India, ranking third in production and productivity. The All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project, established in 1957, has made significant contributions to maize improvement. By 2025, India needs to double its maize production to meet the growing population and demand. To achieve this, Indian researchers are focusing on developing transgenics for biotic and abiotic stresses. The ultimate goal is to make maize resistant to different stresses and high yielding.
Maize, being the principal grain crop, has been at the forefront of genetic engineering. Fortunately, maize also has a good number of jumping genes, which makes it adaptable to different climates. Various gene transfer methods such as particle bombardment, protoplast transformation, and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation have been explored and refined.
Maize, being a cereal crop, is heavily reliant on nitrogen for growth and development. Commercial agriculture is highly dependent on synthetic fertilizers, which has created ecological and environmental problems due to soil degradation and pollution, which are very harmful to the future of India. Thus, Indian maize breeders are on the way to approaching the best solution. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) offers promising solutions, which fix atmospheric nitrogen, but this mechanism is seen in legumes. Indian scientists are working to develop similar symbiotic partnerships in maize through gene editing, genetic engineering, and many more advanced approaches to reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
Genome editing is the latest advancement in genetics, which has transformed the field of crop improvement. The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a remarkably simple and cost-effective gene editing approach. The Cas9 protein induces double-stranded breaks in targeted genomic loci, which are then repaired by the cell’s own repair machinery. This allows researchers to introduce specific changes to the genome, enabling precise editing of genes, and it allows multiplexing, which enables scientists to edit multiple genes simultaneously.
The fall armyworm is a devastating pest in maize, which has pulled maize yield down. CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized genome editing of insects, enabling precise modification in pests. This technology has successfully edited genes in fall armyworms. Some examples:
- Abdominal-A (Sfabd-A)
- SfABCC2 gene
- Double sex gene
- Sex lethal gene (Sxl)
These edits have paved the way for pest control in maize. CRISPR-Cas9 is a boon to the current situation in crop production. There are a few successful edits too, which have been made by Indian maize breeders. Scientists at IIMR (Indian Institute of Maize Research) are working on CRISPR-mediated virus-resistant maize, fall armyworm-resistant maize, maize enriched with Vitamin A, and maize varieties tolerant to drought and stress.
The quest for improved maize agronomic and quality traits has been a longstanding goal for maize breeders and researchers. As genome editing technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in maize breeding. The impact of climate change on maize yield has underscored the need for innovative breeding strategies.
In a significant development, in 2020, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research recognized eight new hybrid maize varieties as promising for release in different seasons and agroclimatic zones across India. These were identified after thorough discussion with scientists through a digital workshop of AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Project) attended by 150 participants across the country. Then ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra appreciated the efforts of maize breeders for continuing their work despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
A few of the varieties and hybrids released by Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR):
- DMRH1301 – Tolerant to Charcoal rot
- IMHB1532 – Attractive creamy baby corn
- PMH1 – Low phytic acid (anti-nutritional factor in maize)
- IC405277 – Shows protogyny in maize (female matures before male)
- IC0594467 – Drought tolerance
- IC0593934 – Resistant to multiple pests and diseases
“Enhancing the productivity, profitability, and competitiveness of maize and maize-based farming systems with economic and environmental sustainability” is the vision of IIMR.
In conclusion, the genetics of maize in India at present is approaching advanced techniques to increase production. The integration of conventional breeding with genomics approaches holds potential for revolutionizing maize breeding. As the world faces the challenges of climate change and food security, maize genomics and CRISPR-Cas9 are powerful tools with the ability to precisely edit genes. As we celebrate the progress made so far, we also look forward to a brighter future for maize. That’s all folks, we hope you enjoyed the corny journey of maize genetics in India. Stay curious and keep learning, and next time when you bite a juicy corn, remember the amazing genetics that made it possible.