Increasing Maize Yields Using Exotic Germplasm.

Exotic germplasm has been used successfully to increase yields of US maize. Several temperate-adapted, all-tropical inbreds have consistently shown high yields when combined with US testers or commercial hybrids. The GEM project is the most comprehensive effort to quickly introduce elite exotic germplasm into temperate breeding and the first results look promising.

Industrial utilization of exotic germplasm has lagged for several reasons, but with access to well-tested adapted and semi-adapted germplasm becoming more available, that is likely to change. The pressure for diversifying the female side of commercial hybrids (whose heritage traces almost exclusively to Iowa State University releases from decades long ago) is substantial.