dehghan, a new early-medium maturity grain maize hybrid (ksc 400)

dehghan (ksc 400) is an early-medium maturity grain maize hybrid that has been developed from a cross between two inbred lines (ke72012/12×k1263/1). this cross was carried out in 1997, for the first time. the characteristics of dehghan hybrid were studied in different trials (preliminary, semi final, final and on farm trials) in several locations during 1997 to 2005. the mean grain yield of the hybrid over all trials was 10.8 tha-1 with a reasonable stability. it is earlier in maturity than commercial late and medium maturity grain maize hybrids such ksc704 and ksc647 in iran. leaves and stalks of dehghan hybrid are green at maturity, its grain moisture at harvest is low, therefore it is suitable for late cultivation as second crop in temperate zones of iran. the hybrid of dehghan grain maize hybrid was officially introduced in march 2008