Scientific research team to design corn hybrids

In more than 60 years of history of modern maize breeding in Bc Institut for plant production and breeding, this programme became recognisable and respectable both in the country and all around the world. Taking into considerations specific properties of agro-climatology as well as specific properties of maize farming and its use in Croatia, 6 generations of breeding professionals successfully offers agriculture practitioners hybrids which encompass about 50% of areas where maize is grown despite presence of all the global competitors. In addition to design of hybrids for the domestic market, efforts to create hybrids for foreign markets (extremely early and late hybrids) have been intensified, already resulting in increased exports.

As in any serious breeding programme, the basic objective is to create highly adaptable, high-yield hybrids. In addition to the foregoing, each hybrid aimed at market success should also be accompanied by a “package” of specific properties conditioned by the producer. Therefore efforts are invested in hybrids for farming at various levels of agro-technical measures applied, various methods of harvest and use. Grain quality and/or increased proportion of proteins through an increased proportion of corneous endosperm is important to producers who use most of the maize within their own farms. Increasing consumer standards and demands for healthier food reinforce the need to design hybrids with a favourable proportion of Omega-3/ Omega-6 fatty acids. Due to shortages and high price of energy, selection to promote more rapid release of moisture from grains gains importance. Design of and constant improvements to the own genetic base ensuring independence and recognisability, as well as cooperation with breeding programmes throughout the world are meant to respond to these and a great many other demands, reach and remain at the top.