Directions for Future corn Improvement in Thailand

Abstract

Growing deomestic deman for the growing local animal feed industries combined with meeting the demand of traditional export markets are likely to exceed domestic production of both corn and sorghum in teh near future. To maintain self sufficiency in production there is a nee dto increase both average yields and areas of production.
In ongoing breeding programs the synthesis of short duration, drought toterant and mildew resisitant varieties production of corn varieties of less than 90 days maturity time should allow corn to be grown prior to the main lowlan dric ecrop and to follow some field crops in the rainfed uplands. The development of locational and seasonal specific corn varieties should also be a longer term breeding objective.