Quality Protein Maize Progress and Prospects G N

Quality Protein Maize: Progress and Prospects G. N. Atlin, N. Palacios, R. Babu, S. Twumasi-Afriye, H. De Groote, B. S. Vivek, D. Friesen, and K. V. Pixley 28 July 2010

Topics QPM and its worth The genetic story of QPM release and adoption story

Why put protein in maize? Proteinaceous foods Meat Egg Milk Pulses Eat an egg for your protein! For the less privileged cereals are the only source of food (=> only source of protein) Cereals have a low protein content (10%)

Maize Consumption 180 Maize Consumption (Kg/person/Yr) 160 Total calories from maize (%) 140 Total Protein from maize (%) 120 100 80 60 40 20 oz M El S o ic ex M al am va bi qu e do r ni a Ta nz a A fr ic a a So ut h K on H en y s du ra a G ua t em al bw ba Zi m M al aw e i ho ot Le s Za m bi a 0

opaque 2 (o 2) A naturally occurring variant of maize Recessive Doubles lysine and tryptophan content in maize protein (i. e. quality of the protein is better) Protein quantity in maize is unchanged Not a genetically modified organism (GMO)

Proteins Amino Acids Lysine Threonine Tryptophan Isoluecine Etc. Essential Required in diet of monogastric animals + Eg. Humans, pigs, chicken Non-essential Can be synthesized by metabolism in monogastric animals

Lysine/Tryptophan in common maize vs QPM maize 100 90 QPM vs Milk 80 70 60 50 40 Quality as % of milk 30 20 10 0 Normal maize o 2 maize Milk

Utility of High Lysine and Tryptophan Maize Animal Nutrition QPM N Maize Human Nutrition Akuamoa-Boateng in Ghana

Human Nutrition: Clinical Evidence In Children: QPM had greater rate of weight (12%) and height (9%) increase Established facts: Lysine is the most limiting amino acid (fortified cereals study) QPM has almost 2 x lysine and tryptophan than common maize (CM) Digestibility of QPM similar to that of CM QPM protein more bio-available than CM Food processing does not affect QPM quality Substituting QPM for CM can improve health of mild to moderately under nourished children

Human Nutrition: Clinical Evidence QPM has been found to be a potentially valuable option to address protein and lysine malnutrition problems that remain important among some maize consuming populations

Human Nutrition: Food Industry Dry milling: grain hardness, density, de-germing, roller milling property similar to CM Wet milling: greater amount of starch and gluten Alkaline cooking: protein quality maintained. Higher Ca, Mg and niacin in final products Roasting: high lysine and tryptophan in roasted QPM Consumer preference: organoleptic properties unchanged

QPM as livestock feed Swine: Doubled daily weight gain from QPM Poultry: methionine is more limiting than lysine and tryptophan. QPM cultivars yield up to 5% cost benefit QPM Ruminants (not monogastric): high lysine is of little N Maize value

The Genetic Story Confers high lysine and tryptophan to kernel Unacceptable texture; soft and chalky Ear rot susceptibility Susceptible to cracking of kernels Lower yield Slow dry-down opaque-2 Maize Opaque phenotype on a light table

The Genetics - From opaque-2 maize to QPM: Successful manipulation of 3 genetic systems o 2 o 2 (homozygous recessive) High levels of lysine and tryptophan (lab analysis) Acceptable hard endosperm (selection for endosperm modification)

QPM looks like non-QPM

Yellow hybrids evaluated in 2008 in 4 locations in Mexico 20 18 16 14 CIMMYT QPM (n=21) 12 CIMMYT non-QPM (n=23) 10 Highest-yielding CIMMYT QPM Highest-yielding CIMMYT non-QPM 8 Monsanto DK 191 Pioneer 30 F 35 6 4 2 0 Mean yield (t/ha) Ear rot (%) Bad husk cover (%)

Head to head comparison of converted hybrids 7 12 6 10 5 8 CML 264 x CML 2731 4 3 CML 264 Q x CML 273 Q 2 6 CML 451 x CL 024502 CL 02450 Q x. CML 451 Q 4 2 1 0 0 Grain yield (t ha-1) Ear rot (%) Root lodging (%)

QPM: Its Benefits to Farmers and Communities

Just, what is QPM: Breeder’s perspective Quality index = ratio of tryptophan in sample to protein in sample, expressed as % Negative correlation between protein quality and quantity protein % and QI No absolute values that “define” QPM Compare with non-QPM checks Look at combining ability and agronomic characters Select the best of what you have and keep your standards high

Just what is QPM? Farmer’s perspective

QPM Grain: issues to consider QPM looks like non QPM How does the farmer get added return for QPM grain? => How does the seed company charge a premium for QPM seed? => How is the consumer assured that he is buying QPM? There can’t be a premium for QPM. A variety that is QPM should succeed because of its other agronomic advantages (yield, disease resistance etc. ). High lysine/tryptophan is only an added benefit In specialized markets, to derive benefits of QPM …… Sensitization of the whole production chain is required

QPM Grain: issues to consider Once QPM is pollinated with non-QPM the grain is non-QPM How does one get nutritional benefit Contamination levels 1: 1 => 50% pollen competition 4: 1 => 20% pollen from QPM Maximum contamination = 11% even when fully surrounded Max contamination within 6 m of non-QPM 30 m from non-QPM no contamination Wind direction, height of QPM, flowering synchronization, … all play a part In physical mixtures fed to rats; minimum of 20 % contamination was required to negate the benefits of QPM

QPM Seed: issues to consider How does one save seed if it is an OPV To save seed: Get from middle of the field Buy fresh seed every 3 or 4 seasons Seed production: since a variety loses quality when pollinated by non-QPM what are the implications for seed production? No special considerations

QPM: issues to consider Most farmers grow maize under low N and drought. Does a QPM variety still maintain its quality under when grown under such conditions? QPM is still QPM under stress. Quantity of protein is reduced under low N but the quality (lysine and tryptophan) are unchanged.

QPM Release: issues to consider Release Issues: Propose it as a variety that is: agronomically competetive with others in the market and a variety that also has high lysine and tryptophan based on lab tests. Do not propose any variety as “QPM” Feeding trials required!!!

QPM: Breeding Strategy No premium on quality (no specialized markets) QPM is useful ONLY if parent lines of hybrids are producible hybrids show performance comparable to non-QPM checks (improved nutrition) – a hidden benefit QPM Inbred lines at Harare, Zimbabwe, 2001

In short QPM is beneficial as food and feed We can declare victory on the genetic manipulation front

Release and Adoption Story (Mexico and C. America) 7 hybrids and 4 OPVs since 2006; CIMMYT and national programs Limited interest by large commercial seed companies Therefore, target small-scale subsistence farmers depending on maize as food Dissemination: Community based seed production Food security and income support programs

Release and Adoption Story (Eastern and southern Africa) E. Africa: 8 QPM hybrids and 4 OPVs Uganda: 2300 t of QPM seed produced annually in 2007 and 2008 (90, 000 ha = 15% of maize area). Obatanpa most of this Ethiopia: inbred line and OPV conversion BH 660: 60 -70% of hybrid sales; adoption likely to rise Southern Africa: Obatanpa and VP 05195 (Chitedze 2 QPM) South Africa: several hybrids Zimbabwe: ZS 261: CIMMYT double cross hybrid

Release and Adoption Story (Ghana) Only W. African example where extensive adoption has taken place Accelerated QPM breeding and dissemination program began in 1989 and continued through a “no -QPM” phase 300 maize lines and OPVs (CIMMYT support) Lab support: Sasakawa Global 2000 and CIDA Obatanpa: released in 1992 and has spread all over 3 -ways: Dadaba, Mamaba, CIDA-ba >10 yrs after release: 90% of seed sales is of Obatanpa

Release and Adoption Story (Ghana) Multi-disciplinary and inter-institutional approach President of Ghana promoted it Human nutrition and village-level trials conducted to address child malnutrition Animal feeding experiments, studies on commercial ratios etc. Biggest factor: high yield and stability of Obatanpa Certified seed is available Move to develop earlier maturing varieties. White to yellow: CSIR Jubilee Variety.

Release and Adoption Story (Asia) India and China: several releases but little adoptions Limited cost advantage of QPM in swine and poultry Mindanao (Philippines), hills of Nepal, Indonesia: maize is food.

Lack of adoption: Why? 40 years of research, over 40 agronomically elite QPM hybrids and OPVs released in 25 countries Mexico, C. America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia 90 million ha maize only 1% QPM Most of this in Ghana and Uganda Most of this is Obatanpa

Future Ex-ante impact assessment of introduction of methionine-rich hybrids in India Analysis of methionine content in elite inbred lines Develop methionine-rich hybrids (QPM and non. QPM)

Thank you