From September 15-16, Dr. Felix Manuel San Vicente Garcia, Dr. Thanda Dhliwayo, and Dr. Zhang Xuecai, who came from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center of CIMMYT, were invited to visit the Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.

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Dr. Felix and Dr. Zhang Xuecai expressed their gratitudes for the invitation from HAAFS and hoped to expand the cooperation between CIMMYT and HAAFS through this visit. During the communication, Yan Long, Deputy Director of the Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, first introduced the overview of the institute and its deep connection with CIMMYT; Dr. Felix introduced the practice of CIMMYT in maize breeding, as well as its exploration and application in hybrid optimization mode, genetic basis analysis of important diseases, DH line creation, molecular markers, and whole genome selection; Dr. Zhang Xuecai introduced the characteristics and applications of CIMMYT germplasm; Director Song Wei of the Corn Center introduced the progress made by the Corn Center in the introduction, identification, and utilization of CIMMYT and tropical germplasm.

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On September 16th, Director Zhang Meishen of the International Cooperation Division of HAAFS accompanied CIMMYT experts to the Dishang Experimental Station of the Institute for field visits and guidance. Director Song Wei explained the field planting, evaluation, and preliminary matching of tropical maize germplasm introduced from CIMMYT. The experts compared the phenotypic differences of these tropical maize germplasm in Mexico and the Huang-Huai-Hai region of China, and pointed out their excellent germplasm resources. At the same time, they discussed the balance between yield and resistance in maize germplasm improvement in the Huang Huai Hai region with our institute's researchers, and suggested using American Ex PVP germplasm to improve its photosensitivity. Afterwards, CIMMYT experts visited the Wuji new variety demonstration field and inspected the growth of new varieties such as Jiyu 903 and Jiyu 732.

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The visit of the CIMMYT group not only strengthened the connection between HAAFS and top international scientific research institutions, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two sides, but also deepened the understanding of tropical and CIMMYT maize germplasm, and pointed out the direction for CIMMYT maize germplasm improvement and utilization.


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