Maize in West Africa: Importance and Production Constraints -- Climatology of Maize in West and Central Africa -- Anatomy and Physiology of Maize -- Pollination Techniques -- Population Improvement and Development of Open Pollinating Varieties -- Inbred and Hybrid Maize Development -- Heterotic Grouping, Testers, and Molecular Approaches in Hybrid Maize Production -- Breeding Quality Protein Maize (QPM) -- Breeding for Striga Resistance -- Breeding for Drought Tolerance -- Breeding for Tolerance to Low Soil Nitrogen -- Breeding for Disease Resistance -- Breeding for Insect pest Resistance -- Genotype x Environment Interaction and Repeatability of Traits at the Biotic and Abiotic Screening Sites in West and Central Africa -- Selection Indices and Use of Secondary Traits -- Variety Testing and Release -- Commercialization of Early and Extra-early Maize and Impact on Maize Production and Productivity in West and Central Africa -- Current Perspectives and Future Challenges of Maize Improvement in West and Central Africa.

The book focuses on the principles and practices of tropical maize improvement with special emphasis on early and extra-early maize to feed the increasing population in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the similarities and differences between results obtained in temperate regions of the world and WCA in terms of corroboration or refutation of genetic principles and theory of maize breeding. The book is expected to be of great interest to maize breeders, advanced undergraduates, graduate students, professors and research scientists in the national and international research institutes all over the world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. It will also serve as a useful reference for agricultural extension and technology transfer systems, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), seed companies and community-based seed enterprises, policy makers, and all those who are interested in generating wealth from agriculture and alleviating hunger and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.