Maize Research in India: Retrospect and Prospect

The need for a textbook that delves into the intricacies of maize and the fundamental research concepts has long been recognized. This book has been compiled with the aim of fulfilling that need and is divided into 18 chapters. The book provides comprehensive information on aspects such as maize breeding, agronomy, plant protection, statistical designs, and socio-economic aspects of maize. The unique selling point of this book is the information it provides on various aspects of maize experimental designs, observation recording, data analysis, and how to publish research findings in renowned journals. Unlike other textbooks that focus primarily on the theoretical concepts of crops, this book emphasizes practical application and experimental design. It provides researchers and academicians with practical ideas on how to organize research experiments in maize and the basic parameters that need to be considered in different areas of maize research and development.

S.L. Jat, Scientist (Sr. Scale), ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana Dr. S.L. Jat, Ph.D. Agronomy from ICAR-IARI with IARI Merit Medal and working as a Scientist at ICAR-IIMR, New Delhi since 2010. After doing training of 5 weeks at CIMMYT, Mexico he intensified studies on conservation agriculture (CA)-based sustainable intensification of maize systems. He is also associated with teaching and guiding of the PG students at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Dr. Jat has leading a project funded by ICAR-NASF on microbiome and soil health indicators in CA. He is also leading the outreach activities of the ICAR-IIMR and travelled across India for creating awareness and providing management tools for alien invasive pest fall armyworm. Beside crop production technology, he also worked in a team for development of 9 maize hybrids including baby corn and pop corn. Dr Jat has more than 85 research/review papers in his credit with goggle scholar citation of 793 and h-index of 17. Dr Jat is recipient of FAI Golden Jubilee Award (2019), MTAI Young Scientist Award (2020), FAI-Dhiru Moraraji Memorial Award (2016), Appreciation Certificate from Govt of Afghanistan (2016 and 2018), FAI-Shreeram Puruskar (2010 & 2013), IIMR best Scientist Award (2019 and 2020) etc.

Dr. Chikkappa Gangadhar Karjagi is actively involved in maize research especially the application of molecular tools and techniques in maize improvement at ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (formerly Directorate of Maize Research). He has developed a protocol for In-planta transformation in maize. He has also studied the genetics of inheritance to Sesamia inferans in maize. He is also associated in development of single cross maize hybrids DHM121 (BH41009) and also the extension of area of cultivation of maize single cross hybrid DHM117 (BH 40625) in Bihar during both kharif and rabi season. In his Ph.D. research he has developed several NILs of improved Swarna (Golden Swarna, an Indian rice cultivar) through MABB, which can accumulate total carotenoids as high as 16 ìg/g of endosperm, with 85% of pro vitamin A and also studied inheritance of transgene (psy+crtI) for which he was honoured with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Agricultural and Allied About the Editors Sciences in the disciplines of Crop Science by ICAR. Presently he is involved in improvement of nutritional value of maize through marker assisted introgression of gene(s) determining quality traits namely opaque2, lpa2, and crtRB1/lcyE, in elite Indian germplasm.

Dr. Bhupender Kumar has completed his B.Sc. Ag. from CSKHPKV Palampur, H.P, and M.Sc. & Ph.D. in Genetics from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, is working as scientist in Maize breeding at ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana from 2011. Since joining, he is intensely working on basic and applied science of improving maize for high yield, abiotic and biotic stresses tolerance. He has developed and released six single cross hybrids of maize, many of them have been commercialized through PPP and are very much popular among the farmers. Besides, he has developed and registered two genetic stocks at NBPGR. Research results of his team/group of researchers have been well documented in over 40 research papers in peer reviewed high-impact factor journals. Dr. Bhupender Kumar has several awards and recognitions to his credit including NAAS Associateship (2020), ICAR- IIMR Best Scientist recognition (2019), Young Scientist award of MTAI (2020), DST- SERB early career research award (2018), Young Scientist Award from society for scientific development in agriculture and technology (2015) and Appreciation awards (2015 & 2017) from ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana.

Dr. Suby S.B., is an entomologist working in integrated pest management of maize at ICAR-IIMR since October 2009. She listens to the communication between plants and insects and believes in eco-friendly ways to bring equilibrium in agro-ecology. One of her technology was granted patent and one is under review. She has published more than 20 research papers in national and international journals. She was graduated in Agriculture from Kerala Agricultural University with first rank and was a topper in Msc and PhD Entomology from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

Dr. C.M. Parihar (Ph.D. Agronomy, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi), is a Senior Scientist in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. After obtaining his Ph.D. devoted more than one decade to intensely working on basic and applied science in natural resource management and specifically on conservation agriculture (CA)-based sustainable intensification and teaching of IARI PG students. Dr. Parihar has conducted comprehensive research on soil health governing parameters under CA. Research results of his team/group of researchers have been well documented in over 65 peer reviewed high-impact journal articles. Dr. Parihar has several awards and recognitions to his credit including Fertilizer Association of India (FAI)-Golden Jubilee Award (2019) for Excellence in Fertilizer Use Research, FAI-Golden Jubilee Award (2017) for Efficient Nutrient Management, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR)-Outstanding Researcher Award (2015), ICAR-IIMR-Young Scientist Award (2015), Indian Society of Agronomy (ISA)-PS Deshmukh Young Agronomist Award (2014), ICAR-Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Gold Medal in M.Sc. (Agronomy), etc.

Dr. Meena Shekhar is Principal scientist in Division of Plant Quarantine, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, started her career from Indian Institute of maize Research in 1984. Working with co-ordinated maize improvement, she has very long experience in maize diseases especially in Post flowering stalk (PFSR) of maize. She worked on host pathogen interaction between PFSR pathogen and maize (host). She developed disease management module and resistant lines for PFSR disease. She also worked on Prevention and Management of Mycotoxin specially aflatoxin contamination in maize, Genes Pyramiding for Resistance to Turcicum Leaf Blight and Polysora Rust in Maize. She investigated rapid Technique, developed/validated for the first time in maize to identify the toxic and nontoxic isolates of Aspergillus flavus through Ammonia vapour test. Dr. Shekhar has published several papers in reputed Journals/Book chapters/Books/ Popular Magazines. She has several national and International awards and recognitions to her credit including Distinguished Scientist, Lifetime achievement award in Plant Pathology and Fellow of Indian Phytopathological Society (FPSI 2018).

Dr. Sujay Rakshit did his PhD in Gentics and Plant Breeding from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (India) and received Best Ph.D. Student Medal and IARI Merit Medal in 1998. Presently he is a Director of ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research PAU Campus, Ludhiana since March 2017. Dr Rakshit is a recipient of prestigious NE Borlaug Fellowship and BOYSCAST Fellowship and was a postdoctoral fellow at Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, Japan (2003-05). He also served as faculty member of the Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi and guided 3 PhD students. Dr Rakshit had developed AICRP on Sorghum and Maize automation systems. Dr Rakshit and his team developed and released 4 hybrid maize cultivars, one forage sorghum variety and registered 20 genetic stocks at ICAR-NBPGR. Dr Rakshit has authored research paper (65), review/technical article (28) and bulletins (20). He is a recipient of many awards and honors including Fellow, Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding, New Delhi (2014), President, Maize Technologists Association of India (2018), President, Agriculture and Forestry Section, Indian Science Congress, Kolkata (2019), Associated Editor, Indian Journal of Genetics & Plant Breeding (2016), Indian Science Congress Association Young Scientist Award (1999), Jawaharlal Nehru Award (1999) for outstanding post-graduate research and UNESCO Fellowship in Biotechnology (1998).

Dr Vinay Mahajan did PhD Plant Breeding from PAU, Ludhiana and MBA from IGNOU, New Delhi is presently working as Principal Scientist at ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi. Dr Mahajan served as Head (Crop Improvement Division) at ICAR-VPKAS, Almora (2003- 10), in-charge of ICAR-IIMR, Ludhiana (June 2014 to Feb 2016) and acting Director ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, New Delhi (March 2016 to March 2017). Dr Mahajan has two patents on hybrid wheat and developed 45 cultivars in crops like maize hybrids/composites (18), lentil (5), horse gram (4), wheat (3), soybean (3), field pea (2) and one each in barley, rajmash, arhar, toria and groundnut. In addition, 19 genetic stocks of maize, wheat, barnyard millet and soybean also registered with ICAR-NBPGR. Dr Mahajan was honoured with ICAR Team Award Triennium 1994-96 and recognized by ICARDA and ICRISAT in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Other scientific recognitions were Bioved Fellowship Award 2007, 20th Century Crop Research Award 2000 and visited Syria, Mexico, China and Thailand. He had published 95 research publications, 4 review articles, 4 books, 14 extension bulletins, 20 book chapters and >15 invited lectures were to the credit of Dr Mahajan.