DHM 117
A Dharwad-bred hybrid that roughly doubles the yield ceiling of an open-pollinated variety, at the cost of fresh hybrid seed every season.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Maize
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 100–105 days
- Expected yield
- 45–55 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Released 2009, bred at ANGRAU, Hyderabad from the cross BML 6 × BML 7
About this variety
DHM 117 is a single-cross maize hybrid released in 2009, bred at ANGRAU, Hyderabad from the cross BML 6 × BML 7, with medium-to-late maturity and orange-yellow flint grain. It has been documented under artificial epiphytotic screening as moderately resistant (MR) to turcicum leaf blight, and front-line demonstrations run in Mahabubnagar district, Telangana over 2012–13 recorded realistic farmer-field yields averaging around 44 q/ha (a 36–54 q/ha range), well above the local checks it was compared against — a more conservative, field-tested figure than the higher yield ceiling sometimes quoted for research-station conditions.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
100–105 days
Expected yield
45–55 q/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Documented moderate resistance to turcicum leaf blight under artificial disease-pressure screening, useful in humid kharif seasons
- Front-line demonstrations recorded a clear, realistic yield advantage over local checks in farmer fields, not just at the research station
Things to consider
- As with any single-cross hybrid, fresh certified seed is needed every season — farm-saved seed loses the hybrid vigour and yield advantage
- Realistic farmer-field yields (around 44 q/ha in documented demonstrations) run below the higher figures sometimes quoted for controlled research-station conditions — plan around the field-tested number
- One low-reliability agri-listicle refers to DHM 117 as ‘Dekalb Hybrid Maize’ and quotes an implausible 65–75 quintal-per-acre yield figure — that naming and figure were deliberately not used here since they conflict with the better-corroborated ANGRAU/BML 6 × BML 7 breeding record from multiple independent sources
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
Frequently asked questions
What yield can I realistically expect from DHM 117 on my own field?
Front-line demonstrations in Telangana recorded an average of about 44 q/ha under real farmer-field conditions, with a range of roughly 36–54 q/ha depending on management — a more useful planning figure than research-station potential yields, which run higher.
Does DHM 117 need spraying for turcicum leaf blight?
It carries documented moderate resistance under artificial disease-pressure trials, which reduces but doesn’t eliminate risk — a protective spray is still worth it in a humid season with heavy blight pressure in your area.