Corn (Zea mays.L) is the second leading cereal in Myanmar and an important commodity in earning farmers’ income and foreign currencies. To increase productivity, development of locally adapted better hybrid is strongly needed. For upgrading the hybrid corn research and development program, Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) invited the International Corn Foundation (ICF)/Kyungpook National University (KNU) in 2005. Under this collaborative program, research on genetic potential of exotic germplasm introduced from Nepal, Hawaii, Korea, China and IITA has been carried out in 2009 rainy season. Yield trials of 108 and 80 combinations of Myanmar lines and exotic germplasm (Normal × Normal crosses, Normal × Super-sweet) were carried out in Tatkone, Yezin (central zone), Nyaung Mon (north zone), Aung Ban (highland zone) research stations, respectively. These experimental crosses are produced in Korea and Cambodia, 2008. Two to five outstanding hybrids have been selected for three respective zones. Selected hybrids yielded 50-100% more than the best commercial hybrid, CP888 imported from Thailand.The hybrids are tolerant to Rhizoctonia blight in the Tatkone, Exserohilum turcicum blight in Aung Ban, and E. turcicum and stem borers in the Nyaung Mon. A couple of normal super-sweet corn hybrids were selected for nutrition, sugar and vitamin A+. These results point out that introgression of exotic alleles has a potential to increase the heterotic response in yield and biotic resistance. Thus, an understanding of the heterotic relationship between adapted and exotic is needed to exploit exotic germplasm intelligently.

Corn (Zea mays. L) is one of the potential export crops of Myanmar. It is crucial to develop locally adapted high yielding hybrids to dramatically increase production. International Corn Foundation/Kyungpook National University (ICF/KNU) and Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) have developed a collaborative research to develop super hybrids. Under this program, 11 preliminary test cross trials including 538 crosses were tested in AungBan and NyaungMon (mid altitude) and Tatkone (lowland) Myanmar, and ICF Agric Center in Cambodia, 2008 rainy season. Test cross seeds were produced in Cambodia and Myanmar during 2007 winter season. Germplasms from Nepal, Myanmar, IITA, and CIMMYT were used. Simple estimates of commercial value score (1= best, 9= poorest) with yield potential, good agronomic traits and disease tolerance were rated. The analysis of variance for each trial showed highly significant among test crosses and better performance than local check hybrids. VN3 x SSA showed the highly tolerance to Northern Corn Leaf Blight in sticky corn trial. The outstanding performance was recognized in Nepal materials crossed with IITA materials. It is point out that overseas aids collaborative breeding and training of young staff are effective parts of Myanmar hybrid corn R&D program.