Seed multiplication of improved open-pollinated varieties
Practical Action
How to multiply open pollinated varieties (OPVs)
• Buy recommended certified OPVs for your area.
• Grow OPVs in your poorer fields where you expect to harvest less than 15 bags per acre.
• The seed produced can be recycled for one or two reasons without any significant decline in
vigour.
• Maintan purity of your seed and remember, in maize the tassel is the male flower that produces
pollen and the si Iks constitute the female flower.
• Plant your OPVs for seed multiplication 200 - 300m away from other maize crops to avoid
contamination.
• Inspect your crops before flowering and remove any plants that look different from others to
keep your seed pure.
• When harvesting, take the ears of crops from the centre of the field for seed where there are
least chances of cross poll ination from other crops.
• Keep your seed separate from other grain and protect it from storage pests.
Commercially available varieties :ZM421, ZM521, ZM561, Matuba, KEP, Obantanpa
Open-pollinated varieties (OPVs)
Open pollinated varieties are known sources of pollinated plants. Some have been improved and
have variety names. The grain of an OPV may be saved for replanting if it is isolated from other
maize varieties, or harvested from the middle of the field. The recycled seed will grow and yield as
well as the original plants. Compared to hybrids, OPVs are less uniform ( and usually lower- yielding
than hybrids in optimal environments). OPVs, however, have the advantage of being more stable
than hybrids in low - yielding or stress environments.
Farmers' checklist on when to grow a hybrid or OPV.
When to grow a hybrid
When to grow an OPV
tTohnenfeasrm/hear(e1x5pebcatgsstopehraarvceres)t omfomreaitzheangr2ain
tTohnenfeasrm/hear(e1x5pebcatgsstopehraarvceres)t omfomreaitzheangr2ain
iTthseyiceoldst. of hybrid seed will be recovered from
Tthheefcaormsteorf hybrid seed may not be paid for by
eTfenhrvetiilrfioasnremmr aeenrndtisaplnoedcstacitcaeinddeaisnffoardhiginhppuotstesnutciahl as
eTnhveirfoanrmmeernitsalnodcactaendniont aaflfoowrdpeoxtetrnstiianlputs.
cHoynbdriidtisonasdaapreteadv/asuiliatbalbel.e for local
aNvoatillaobclaelly adapted / suitable hybrids are
The farmer can obtain seed for timely planting The farmer cannot readily obtain seed
Adapted from" Strategies for Strengthening and Scaling Up Community-Based Seed Production
(CIMMYT), 2006.
Open-Pollinated Varieties seed production
Farmers who are far from seed retail shops can benefit from growing maize OPVs, as the grain they
harvest may be replanted as seed without significant yield loss. OPV seed may be recycled for a
maximum of three seasons without significant yield loss. The longer a farmer recycles OPV seed,
the greater the risk of contamination by pollen from neighbouring fields, and the deterioration of
the variety. Seed production of OPVs is simpler than that of hybrids, because only one variety is
planted and there is no need for detasseling. Nevertheless, maintenance of the OPV and production
of the foundation seed of OPVs requires some special procedures, similar to hybrid seed
production.
4