Maize for sustainable cropping systems on tropical acid soils - from molecular biology to field cultivation - MAIZE FOR ACID SOILS

Al toxicity and low P availability are main limiting factors restraining maize production on acis soils in ACP and LAM countries. Although progress has been made in developing acid soils-resistant maize cultivars using conventional breeding, the pace of this progress might be too slow to meet the growing need for maize. Our knowledge of the mechanism of Al resistance and P efficiency and their molecular basis in maize did not have much impact on breeding strategies. This is due to the lack of integration of the physiological and molecular knowledge into-practical breeding and crop management. The proposed project attempts to bridge the existing gap between disciplines and combine the different strengths of internationally recognised experts thus leading to a breakthrough not only in the understanding of the adaptation of maize to acid soils and in it's enhancement, but also to the development of sustainable maize cropping-systems.