Considering farmers' preferences in the breeding and dissemination of white corn varieties as staple food

Improved open-pollinated white-corn varieties were evaluated through the use of participatory approaches in four seasons in selected municipalities of the Philippines in the provinces of Isabela, Quezon, Bohol, and North Cotabato to assess and understand farmers' preferences in the adoption of corn varieties. Fifteen improved open-pollinated white 'flint' corn varieties in comparison with the farmers' local variety were assessed on-farm by the farmers themselves in four seasons [wet season] (WS) 2011, dry season (DS) 2011-2012, WS 2012, and DS 2012-2013]. Of the 15 varieties evaluated for crop stand (10-11 entries per cropping season). Bioseed White, IPB Var8 and IES8910 were highly preferred in the wet season, while Northland White, IPB Var8 and Bioseed White were the most preferred varieties during the dry season. The characteristics of improved corn varieties preferred by male farmers included resistance to pests and diseases, medium to tall plant height, large ear size and heavier weight, while good grain quality, large ear size and heavier weight and root anchorage were the characteristics most preferred by female farmers. Sensory evaluation was also conducted to ascertain farmers' rating of the entries based on cooking and eating quality. Northland White and the farmers' local varieties particularly Takuro (Quezon) and Katorsa (Bohol), were consistently favored because of their taste, color, aroma, milling size and softness. In Isabela, IES 8910, IPB Var6 and IES8912 were the three most favored varieties. The three highest-yielding varieties after four seasons of evaluation in farmers' fields were Bioseed White (4.5 t/ha), IPB Var6 and IPB Var 8 (4.1 t/ha). For the roll-over seed system scheme, 985 farmers were recipients of registered seeds during the dry season 2011-12 up to the dry season 2012-2013 seed distribution. The process of including farmers in selecting the most preferred varieties facilitates varietal improvement, adoption and dissemination.