Development and Assessment of an Extra-early and Resistant Corn Variety for Sustainable Yield in Semi-arid Areas of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an essential food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, facing major challenges such as drought and infestation by the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica. This article details the development process and agronomic characteristics of FMB (Ferké Maïs Blanc / Ferké White Corn), a new composite corn variety resulting from a rigorous genetic improvement program conducted in Côte d'Ivoire by the Corn-Millet-Sorghum (CMS) program. Initiated in 2013 in Ferkessédougou by crossing two parental accessions with complementary characteristics, the program led to four intensive cycles of recurrent selection per half-sib families, stabilizing the variety in 2017. 'FMB' is distinguished by its extra-early maturity cycle of 80-82 days, with perfect synchronization of male and female flowering at 48 days. Trials conducted at three key sites in Côte d'Ivoire (Ferkessédougou, Korhogo, Boundiali) revealed a yield potential of 4.0 tons per hectare under optimal conditions, coupled with notable resistance to Striga and excellent drought tolerance. Estimate of genetic parameters confirmed the effectiveness of the selection, and analysis of genetic progress over selection cycles demonstrated consistent improvement in the targeted traits. These attributes make ‘FMB’ a promising solution for strengthening food security and improving the resilience of agricultural systems in regions of Côte d'Ivoire that are vulnerable to water and pest stress.