Biotech Updates

Scientists Develop Witchweed Resistant Maize Variety

November 7, 2012

A new maize variety, known as TAN222, is believed to combat the parasitic flowering plant Striga spp. (also known as witchweed) that can make maize farming nearly impossible in some African regions particularly in Tanzania and Uganda. The new variety is the product of several years of joint research by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the agrochemical producer and supplier BASF, and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. According to Isaka Mashauri, director of Tanseed International which commercializes the witchweed resistant variety in Tanzania, the crop has also the advantage of producing high yielding outputs, harvesting 3.7 tons of maize per hectare.

For more information, visit http://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=9525.