Corn (Zea mays L.) is the second most important cereal crop after rice in Indonesia with the cultivation on four million ha. Production of corn in Indonesia has increased in due to high demand for livestock feed, food and industrial uses. Downy mildew (DM) caused by Perenosclospora sorghi is considered NO. 1 biotic constraint of corn production in the country. The Government of Aceh Province invited the International Corn Foundation (ICF) in Seoul, 2007 to breed locally adapted corn cultivars. The first approach was to introduce ICF corn breeding populations from East-Timor, Cambodia, Vietnam, IITA and CIMMYT. Among the introduced materials from East Timor, we found an outstanding open-pollinated (OP) population, "NAI" with high yield potential and tolerance to DM, Southern corn leaf blight caused by Bipolaris maydis and Southern rust caused by Puccinia polysora. The origin of this popution was formed from crosses between Arjuna (Indonesia) and Suwan 5 (Thailand). After three cycles of half sib selection at the Saree Farm in Aceh, a new name, "Jagung Aceh" was given. Jagung means corn in Aceh dialect. The historical Tsunami hit Aceh Province in Dec. 24, 2004 and caused to lost life of 280,000 peoples. Food security has been serious. We hope "Jagung Aceh" shall increase food, feed and indurial uses of corn and will help for economic development. Seeds of Jagung Aceh has been promoted not only in the entire regions of Aceh Province but also for West Kalimantan Province for its outstanding performance under endemic areas of DM.

• Abu Hendri(International Agricultural Research Institute, Kyungpook National University) Corresponding author
• Soon-Kwon Kim(International Agricultural Research Institute, Kyungpook National University)
• Youggoo Gaang(DINAS PERTANIAN TANAMAN PANGAN)
• Agus Bambang(DINAS PERTANIAN TANAMAN PANGAN)
• Bate Iskandar(DINAS PERTANIAN TANAMAN PANGAN)