Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review

Maize is one of the most important staple crops in the highlands of the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Most seeds come from landraces, with their own kernel characteristics. The kernels are used for the elaboration of traditional dishes and other elaborates for human consumption. In th...

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Main Authors: José Luis Zambrano, Carlos F. Yánez, Carlos A. Sangoquiza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/2/212
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author José Luis Zambrano
Carlos F. Yánez
Carlos A. Sangoquiza
author_facet José Luis Zambrano
Carlos F. Yánez
Carlos A. Sangoquiza
author_sort José Luis Zambrano
collection DOAJ
description Maize is one of the most important staple crops in the highlands of the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Most seeds come from landraces, with their own kernel characteristics. The kernels are used for the elaboration of traditional dishes and other elaborates for human consumption. In this region, maize breeding is conducted mainly by public institutions. In this review, we outline the methodology that has been used by the maize breeding programs (MBPs) of the National Institutes for Agricultural Research and other institutions in the highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia during the last 20 years. The main objective of MBPs in the region has been to develop more uniform and productive open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) of floury maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L. var. Amylacea), which is the most important type of maize in the area. Participatory plant breeding, combined with half-sib, has been used to breed new maize varieties. At least 18 OPVs of floury maize have been released into the Andean region in the last 20 years. Breeding this type of maize has been very important to conserve diversity and promote consumption in the region, but they have had very little impact on yield. The yield of floury maize is around three times below that of dent or semident maize grown in the region. Therefore, there is a need to apply new breeding techniques in the region to accelerate the development of more productive floury-maize cultivars.
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spelling doaj.art-139e72f16d804e15a45afd608a8a8f262023-12-03T14:23:02ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-01-0111221210.3390/agronomy11020212Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A ReviewJosé Luis Zambrano0Carlos F. Yánez1Carlos A. Sangoquiza2INIAP, Estación Experimental Santa Catalina, Panamericana sur Km 1, Cutuglahua 171108, EcuadorINIAP, Estación Experimental Santa Catalina, Panamericana sur Km 1, Cutuglahua 171108, EcuadorKOPIA, Panamericana sur Km 1-dentro de la Estación Experimental Santa Catalina, Cutuglahua 171108, EcuadorMaize is one of the most important staple crops in the highlands of the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Most seeds come from landraces, with their own kernel characteristics. The kernels are used for the elaboration of traditional dishes and other elaborates for human consumption. In this region, maize breeding is conducted mainly by public institutions. In this review, we outline the methodology that has been used by the maize breeding programs (MBPs) of the National Institutes for Agricultural Research and other institutions in the highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia during the last 20 years. The main objective of MBPs in the region has been to develop more uniform and productive open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) of floury maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L. var. Amylacea), which is the most important type of maize in the area. Participatory plant breeding, combined with half-sib, has been used to breed new maize varieties. At least 18 OPVs of floury maize have been released into the Andean region in the last 20 years. Breeding this type of maize has been very important to conserve diversity and promote consumption in the region, but they have had very little impact on yield. The yield of floury maize is around three times below that of dent or semident maize grown in the region. Therefore, there is a need to apply new breeding techniques in the region to accelerate the development of more productive floury-maize cultivars.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/2/212floury maizeyieldseed
spellingShingle José Luis Zambrano
Carlos F. Yánez
Carlos A. Sangoquiza
Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review
Agronomy
floury maize
yield
seed
title Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review
title_full Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review
title_fullStr Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review
title_short Maize Breeding in the Highlands of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia: A Review
title_sort maize breeding in the highlands of ecuador peru and bolivia a review
topic floury maize
yield
seed
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/2/212
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