From the CTPS Maize and Sorghum Section

The distribution of the 115 maize registration proposals by category is as follows:

• 68 varieties in the Grain section, including 9 varieties after one year of evaluation.
• 41 forage varieties, including 15 varieties after one year of evaluation.
• 1 variety from the Grain section, mention modified form of the initial variety already registered
• on list A, more tolerant to the cyclohexanone family than the initial form.
• 1 variety in the Grain section, mentioned as a variety grown at high density.
• 2 varieties in the Forage section, mention variety grown at high density.
• 2 varieties of heading Rich in polyphenols.

The 3 maize varieties in the High Density Variety also have very short internodes under the cob. This innovative phenotypic trait also enhances the diversity of varieties available to farmers. The behavior of these varieties was evaluated in a special experimental set-up, over two years, in comparison with cultivated market control varieties. The results of the varieties grown at high density and the market control varieties grown at a density corresponding to the recommendations for cultivation recommended by Arvalis will be made available to users on the Varmaïs website.

24 maize varieties benefited from accelerated access to the French Official Catalogue, by being proposed for registration at the end of the first year of study. They complied with all the criteria governing this procedure, in particular presenting very good VCUS results.

The distribution of the 12 sorghum registration proposals under the different headings is as follows:

• 3 single-crop forage sorghum silage varieties.
• 9 grain sorghum varieties.

After publication in the Official Journal, the results of maize varieties included in the French Official Catalogue will be made available to users on the Varmaïs website. The Varmaïs website, which opened in September 2021, is an online tool for consulting references from variety evaluation networks in France, and for helping users choose grain and forage maize varieties. To visit the site: www.varmais.fr.

The Section was also informed of the results of the work carried out in 2023 by each of the 4 VCUS and DUS expert groups, as well as the work programs defined for 2024.

Projects for 2023 include

• Validation of an alternative analysis method, using NIRS, for the Waxy grain type to replace the amylose and amylopectin assay, as part of the DUS maize tests.
• Initiation of work on the characterisation of varieties in relation to abiotic stresses and climate change by the VCUS maize expert group.
• Adaptation of the shared GEVES-Arvalis single-crop forage sorghum experimentation network into a national network.

The projects listed for 2024 include

• Continuing work on securing the production of self-fertilisation for varieties in their 1st year of DUS maize testing.
• Continuing work on securing sorghum DUS tests in a context of strong biotic pressure around the Mediterranean.
• Qualification of grain through technological analyses (type of starch, protein content, characteristics of varieties for industrial use only, metabolomic analysis, etc.) by the maize VCUS expert group.
• The definition of new decision rules for the VCUS examination of single-crop forage sorghum varieties by the sorghum VCUS expert group.