2006 Annual Report 4d.Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and Texas A&M University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 3625-21000-047-00D, "Germplasm Enhancement of Maize Project (GEM)". This project relates to the primary objectives of the parent project which includes the development and evaluation of genotypes for biotic and abiotic stresses-drought/heat, corn ear worm (CEW), and grain mold resistance. Results from aflatoxin analysis for ten GEM lines grown at three locations in 2005 indicated that the GEM top cross CUBA117:S15)-1A-1 x Tx205 had an average aflatoxin content of 1,855 ppm, compared to check mean 3,805 ppm of four commercial hybrids. In the drought tolerance study, eight GEM breeding crosses were identified with drought tolerance over two years and should be good candidates for developing inbreds. The breeding crosses were AR16026:N1210, AR13026:N08a04, BR52051:N0417, BR51721:N2012, CML323:N15 (one year data for this breeding cross), UR13085:N0204, UR13010:N0613, and UR11003:S17b. Two breeding crosses were identified with CEW damage below the mean of 41 breeding crosses and three check hybrids. For the 2006 season, 150 top crosses of GEM hybrids are being tested for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance (drought, CEW, and grain mold), and yield at 7 locations in Texas. The 150 germplasm line families are being advanced and further selected in the Lubbock, TX nursery. In addition, aflatoxin levels of GEM line top crosses will be evaluated at locations in Texas, and Mississippi for 2006.