Skip to content

HQPM-1 quality protein maize hybrid Photo: placeholder pending image-fill pass

HQPM-1 quality protein maize hybrid

HQPM-1 (Hisar Quality Protein Maize-1) is a single-cross quality protein maize (QPM) hybrid developed at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, and released through AICRP-Maize in 2005. The hybrid carries the opaque-2 allele, raising lysine and tryptophan content of the endosperm protein to roughly twice that of normal maize. It is the most widely cultivated public-sector QPM hybrid in India.

Why it matters

Conventional maize is low in two essential amino acids — lysine and tryptophan — making it a poor stand-alone protein source for monogastric animals and for children weaned onto maize-based foods. QPM hybrids correct this gap nutritionally without yield penalty. HQPM-1 demonstrated, in AICRP multi-location trials, that QPM grain could match or beat leading normal hybrids on yield while delivering 4.0-4.5% lysine and 0.9-1.0% tryptophan in protein (versus ~2.0% and ~0.5% in normal maize).

Key facts

  • Breeder: CCS HAU, Hisar (parent lines HKI-163 × HKI-161)
  • Released: 2005 by AICRP-Maize for kharif
  • Recommended zone: Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, western UP, Rajasthan, Bihar
  • Duration: 92-96 days (kharif)
  • Yield potential: 6.5-7.5 t/ha; on-farm 5.5-6.0 t/ha
  • Grain: yellow, semi-flint, ~280 g per 1000 kernels
  • Lysine in protein: 4.0-4.5%; tryptophan: 0.9-1.0%

Agronomy

Recommended for medium-to-high fertility soils with assured rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Seed rate 20 kg/ha at 60 × 20 cm spacing. Fertiliser: 150:75:60 NPK kg/ha with N split — basal, knee-high and tasseling stages. The hybrid responds strongly to a side-dressing of N at the 6-8 leaf stage. Weed control by atrazine 1.0 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence followed by one hand-weeding around 30 DAS.

Pests and diseases

HQPM-1 is moderately resistant to maydis leaf blight (Bipolaris maydis) and turcicum leaf blight, but susceptible to fall armyworm (Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda / Fall Armyworm Maize). Pink stem borer (Sesamia inferens) is an issue in late-sown rabi crops in north India. Charcoal rot can appear in moisture-stressed late-kharif sowings.

Adoption and use

HQPM-1 grain is preferred by poultry integrators paying a small premium over normal maize because higher lysine reduces synthetic-lysine inclusion in feed formulae (Maize Poultry Feed Link India). It is one of the QPM hybrids promoted under nutrition-sensitive agriculture programmes in tribal blocks of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha through the National Food Security Mission.

See also: Maize Crop Overview, Pusa Qpm 5 Hybrid Maize, Vivek Qpm 9 Maize, Hqpm 5 Quality Protein Maize, Hqpm 7 Quality Protein Maize, Maize Poultry Feed Link India, Fall Armyworm Maize.

Sources

  1. Quality Protein Maize varieties. ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana. https://iimr.icar.gov.in/?page_id=2247
  2. AICRP-Maize annual report 2022-23. ICAR-IIMR. https://iimr.icar.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/AR-2022-23.pdf