b'WHAT ANA-MAIZING CROP!A DEEP DIVE INTO CORN BREEDING PART 2DISEASE, PESTS, NEW THREATS AND GERMPLASM.BY: MARCEL BRUINS AND TREENA HEINA s explained in Part 1 of this series,As in Part 1, we include responsesRESISTANCE two significant corn (also known widely as maize)from breeders of seven leading EuropeanAs Beaufum explains, is a critical global crop with diversemaize breeding companies, including: forces have impacted corn disease man- food, feed and industrial uses. Indeed, its Karl-Heinz Camp, Head of theagement in recent years in Europe. First, importance is expected to grow as the globalCereals, Corn and Soya Divisionsthere have been major regulatory changes population increases and the demand forat Delley Semences et Plantes SAthat reduce the number of permitted active meat and milk likewise rises. That is why(DSP) in Switzerland. ingredients in disease and pest control Seed World Europe has chosen the world of Ludwig Feldmeier, Maize Breederproducts. Secondly, climate change hascorn breeding as one of our crucial topics toat Freiherr von Moreau Saatzuchtalso impacted disease patterns, putting cover in 2024.GmbH, in Germany. more reliance on the genetic toolbox to We previously examined annual yieldIvan Halechko, Leading Breeder;find solutions, he says. increases, key types of corn bred in EuropeViktorBorysov,ChairmanofHigher humidity levels generally and key breeding targets. But what of resist- the Board; and Ruslan Martsyn,increase the severity of fungal infections ance to the many diseases that can reduceCommercial Director at Companyin corn, a crop that is often planted at corn yields, and the insect pests that canMais in Ukraine. high seeding rates and tends to conse-also cut into the tonnes of grain harvestedLaurent Bettinger, Corn Breedingquently have low airflow through the crop per hectare? What new threats are emerg- Leader at Lidea in France. stand as the growing season progresses. ing? And do companies have adequate ger-J ean-BrunoBeaufum,HeadFrom a breeding perspective, therefore, mplasm sources to combat these and otherofTemperateMaizeResearchresistance to various fungal diseases like challenges in their breeding programs? FindLimagrain Field Seeds. common smut (Ustilago), stem and earthe answers to those questions and more Pter Knczl, Head of Europerot (Fusarium), northern corn leaf blight here in Part 2. Field Crops Seeds Development at(NCLB, Helminthosporium) and others Syngenta in Hungary. are important to screen for in environmentsElliotHeffner,EuropePlantwith high disease pressure or frequentBreedingLeaderatCortevaoccurrence, says Camp.Agriscience.6ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE'