New cycle of maize lethal necrosis germplasm screening to begin at Kenya site in May 2017

The first screening activity for the 2017A planting cycle from March to May is set to begin in May 2017 at the joint Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)–International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) maize lethal necrosis (MLN) artificial inoculation screening site at Naivasha, Kenya.

Deadline for interested private and public sector organizations to send their maize germplasm for screening is March 30, 2017 to enable processing imports and clear seed shipment that takes between six to eight weeks. Planting is due to start at the first week of May 2017.

Since its establishment in 2013 as a response to the MLN outbreak, the screening facility has so far screened over 60,000 entries from 16 private and public institutions including seed companies and national research organizations in Africa and beyond. The facility was established with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.

For assistance in obtaining import permits and necessary logistics for screening, please contact:

Suresh L. Mahabaleswara

Maize Pathologist

Email:  l.m.suresh@cgiar.org

Tel: +254 20 7224609

CIMMYT–Kenya

ICRAF House, United Nations Avenue, PO Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya

 

MEDIA REQUESTS

Brenda Wawa

Communications Officer

Email: b.wawa@cgiar.org

Tel: +254 20 7224661

Mobile: +254 721 614 771

About CIMMYT
CIMMYT, headquartered in El Batán, Mexico, is the global leader in research for development in wheat and maize and wheat- and maize-based farming systems. CIMMYT works throughout the developing world with hundreds of partners to sustainably increase the productivity of maize and wheat systems to improve food security and livelihoods. CIMMYT is a member of the 15-member CGIAR System Organization and leads the CGIAR Research Programs on Wheat and Maize. CIMMYT receives support from national governments, foundations, development banks and other public and private agencies. www.cimmyt.org