Time-lagged relationships were explored between VARIMAX rotated principal components (RCs) of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and rainfall periods that are important for rainfed wheat production in Pakistan. Seasonal forecasts were developed using Generalized Additive Models. The first 10 RCs explained 54% of the variance in the SST data. Individual RCs were strongly (r 2 ≥ |0.5|) to moderately (r 2 ≥ |0.3|) correlated with climatic indices of SST anomalies associated with the El-Niño Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, and the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Forecasts of monsoon (July to September), total growing season (November to April), early (November to January) and late season (February to April) rainfall were developed for Chakwal, Talagang and Islamabad. Important, linear or non-linear, time-lagged relationships were found between the RCs of SSTs and rainfall. Cross-validated forecasts were compared with real-time forecasts to evaluate the 'true' forecasting ability of the models. Continuous and categorical probabilistic forecasts were tested with an array of skill scores. Skilful forecasts of pre-season, monsoon and late-season rainfall were produced for the drier sites Chakwal and Talagang and to a lesser extent for the wetter site Islamabad. These simple, statistical forecasts can be developed with minimal financial investment. However, consideration of the potential uses of such forecasts will require a reflective decision framework that engages stakeholders and addresses socio-economic and agro-ecological constraints not included here.

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A Zea may is an important cereal crop. To nourish human and livestock, it is very important that the quality of maize grain and fodder must be higher. A study was conducted to evaluate maize accessions for grain and fodder quality traits. Results indicated that higher heritability was found for nutrient detergent fiber, fodder cellulose, fodder crude fiber, fodder crude and fodder moisture percentage while genetic advance was higher for fodder cellulose, fodder crude protein and fodder ash percentage. High significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation was found among grain protein, oil and starch percentage, nutrient detergent fiber, fodder cellulose, fodder crude fiber & protein and fodder moisture percentage. The higher cumulative additive effect was recorded for acid detergent fiber, fodder crude fiber; nutrient detergent fiber and fodder cellulose suggested that selections may be made to develop synthetic varieties for better quality. Higher dominance effect and degree of dominance indicated that selection may be useful for the development of good quality maize hybrids through heterosis breeding programme. Principle component bi-plot analysis indicated that B-11×EV-347, B-11, Sh-139, EV-1097×E-322, Sh-139×B-316, B-327×E-322, B-316, Raka-poshi, B-11×Pop/209, B-336×EV-340, B-327×E-322, B-327×F-96, EV-1097×E-322, Rakaposhi×EV-347, EV-1097×Pop/209 and EV-1097×EV-340 performed better for grain and fodder quality and may be used for improvement of grain and fodder quality of maize.