ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research

Crop Improvement Division

The Crop Improvement Division of the ICAR–Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR), Ludhiana is engaged in advanced maize improvement and breeding research aimed at developing high-yielding, climate-resilient maize cultivars for Indian agriculture. The division focuses on genetic enhancement of maize for grain, fodder maize, and silage maize, targeting improved productivity, stress tolerance, and adaptability across diverse agro-climatic regions.

Key research areas include breeding for drought tolerance, resistance to major insect pests and diseases, short-duration maturity, and diversification of the genetic base for enhanced fodder yield and quality. The division also works on improving nutritional and quality traits for food, feed, starch, and bioethanol applications, along with genetic improvement of white maize and specialty maize such as sweet corn, baby corn, and popcorn for livelihood security.

Integration of conventional breeding with genomics, genomic selection, informatics, and decision-support tools enables accelerated genetic gains, contributing to sustainable maize production, fodder security, and national food and nutritional security.