SI 9. New tools and methods for NARS and SMEs

Provide maize breeders in the developing world with genomics and bioinformatics tools, breeding and phenotyping approaches that enable them to double their breeding gains given limited resources.

For example, the use of doubled haploids (DH) in maize breeding dramatically reduces the time required to produce homozygous inbred lines. However, in developing countries, the adoption of DH technology is limited by the lack of inducers adapted to tropical/sub-tropical conditions. CIMMYT addressed this limitation in 2012 by introducing haploid inducers ready for sharing with interested institutions. In 2012, 91 breeders from developing countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia received training on Doubled Haploid breeding. A Doubled Haploid facility has been established at CIMMYT HQ, Mexico and a second facility is under development in Sub-Saharan Africa.