AUTHOR=Chaingeni Davison , Mukaro Ronica , Sneller Clay , Cairns Jill E. , Musundire Lennin , Das Biswanath , Odiyo Olivia , Madahana Sammy , Mazibuko Purity , Mubvereki Washington , Prasanna Boddupali M. , Kutywayo Dumisani 

TITLE=More bang for your buck: potential gains through optimizing maize breeding schemes in sub-Saharan Africa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1553272

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2025.1553272

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Increasing the rate of genetic gain in breeding programs is a critical component of crop genetic improvement strategies to increase yields in smallholder farmers’ fields. While a growing array of technologies and tools are being deployed within breeding programs, optimizing resource allocation could provide a simple yet effective way to increase genetic gain, particularly within resource-constrained breeding programs. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that an easy-to-use deterministic model and a breeding costing tool could identify key modifications to improve the efficiency of breeding within the Zimbabwean national maize breeding program. The current program uses pedigree inbreeding, with a 4–1–1 tester scheme, and relatively low selection intensity. The method of inbreeding, test-crossing schemes, and selection intensity were modified within the current program budget. A combination of using doubled haploid lines, a 2–2–1 tester plan, and increased selection intensity improved gain per cycle by 42.8%, gain per year by 161.8%, gain per dollar by 43.1%, and decreased cost of one unit of genetic gain by 28.5% without a change in budget. Our results highlight how a simple deterministic model can identify steps to greatly improve breeding efficiency within resource-constrained breeding programs.