12403
10.30848/PJB2025-2(5)
<p>
Pioneering new frontiers of maize breeding: Genesis of a novel high temperature stress tolerant hybrid FH-988</p>
Ahsan Raza Mallhi, Aamar Shehzad, Muhammad Altaf, Amer Hussain, Saira Saleem and Rahil Shahzad
<p style="margin-left:.25in;">
Maize productivity is increasingly compromised by changing climatic conditions, with high temperature stress being a major factor in yield losses. Integrated strategies focusing on efficient resource utilization and heat-tolerant maize hybrids are crucial for sustained production. Improving heat tolerance in maize has become one of the top priorities for maize breeding programs. Thus, a new heat-tolerant maize hybrid FH-988 developed in 2021. This hybrid was evaluated in various yield trials from 2011 to 2018 and showed promising yields. It gave 9028 and 9675 kg/ha grain yield in adaptability trials during spring 2017 and 2018 that was 7% higher than its check YH-1898. Under high temperature stress (33.4-43.5ºC) during 2020 & 2021, FH-988 exhibited superior performance against checks DK-6724, YH-1898, P-1429, and FH-1046 by 21%, 13%, 52%, and 49% respectively. Finally, FH-988 not only offers potential as a top choice for the spring season but is also suitable for late sowing.</p>
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Published
2025
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