Ludhiana, Sept 9 – Researchers at the Ladhowal station of the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) are using the recent floods in Punjab as a live testing ground for waterlogging-tolerant maize hybrids. The institute, a joint venture of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Mexico-based CIMMYT, is evaluating nine experimental maize hybrids, four of which were specifically developed to withstand prolonged waterlogging.
Situated just 200 metres from the Sutlej river, BISA’s research fields were submerged under more than 400 mm of water following heavy monsoon rainfall. Rather than seeing the flooding as a setback, researchers viewed it as a rare opportunity to test their hybrids under real-world conditions, according to station coordinator and lead agronomist Dr Pardeep Sagwal.
“Unlike paddy, maize does not have parenchyma cells to allow respiration under water. Once inundated for over 24 hours, it starts to rot,” Dr Sagwal explained. The goal of the project is to develop a maize hybrid that can survive in standing water for five to seven days without significant yield loss.
The research builds on wild maize varieties naturally tolerant to floods, and also aims to ensure that the hybrids maintain strong yield potential. BM Prasanna, managing director of BISA and former head of the global maize programme, said the institute would intensify research to develop kharif-season maize hybrids suited to Punjab’s agro-climatic conditions. “Within a few weeks, we will know the difference between a water-logging tolerant hybrid and a susceptible one,” Prasanna said.
The project gained urgency after Punjab’s additional chief secretary requested CIMMYT-BISA develop maize hybrids with three key traits: water-logging tolerance, resistance to fall armyworm, and water-use efficiency for summer cultivation.
