Harvest index has increased over the last 50 years of maize breeding

Ruiz, Alejo; Trifunović, S.; Eudy, Douglas M.; Sciarresi, Cintia; Baum, Mitch; Danalatos, Gerasimos; Elli, Elvis Felipe; Kalogeropoulos, Georgios; King, Kyle; Santos, Caio dos; Thies, August; Pico, Lía B. Olmedo; Castellano, Michael J.; Schnable, Patrick S.; Topp, Christopher N.; Graham, Michael; Lamkey, Kendall R.; Vyn, Tony J.; Archontoulis, Sotirios

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2023.108991

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The obtained increases in shelling efficiency, kernel-to-ear weight ratio, and positive correlations with both kernel number ear −1 and weight show hybrid improvement of biomass partitioning to the grain (Figures 5d and S2). This partially explains the reported increase in the maize harvest index (Ruiz et al, 2023). Russell (1991) reported increases in shelling efficiency from 84.7% in 1930 to 85.6% in 1980.…”

Section: Crop Sciencementioning

confidence: 81%

Genetic gains in short‐season corn hybrids: Grain yield, yield components, and grain quality traits

King,

Ferela,

Vyn

et al. 2024

Crop Science

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Era studies are important to understand historical changes in maize (Zea mays) germplasm and estimate genetic gains, yet information for short‐season maize hybrids is limited. Here, we determine grain yield genetic gain in Bayer short‐season hybrids (100–105 days) and investigate indirect changes made on 17 secondary traits, including yield components (kernel number, weight, and shelling efficiency), and grain quality traits (oil, protein, starch, ethanol, moisture, and test weight). We evaluated 40 maize hybrids released from 1980 to 2020 across 18 environments in the US Corn Belt. Plant density and N‐fertilizer were held constant within each environment. Results indicated a linear increase in grain yield (from 11.1 to 15.3 Mg ha−1, 105 kg ha−1 year−1, or 0.8% year−1) with no sign of a plateau. The increase in grain yield was attributed more to increased kernels per m2 (0.57% year−1) than kernel weight (0.23% year−1). Grain protein concentration decreased until the late 2000s and plateaued thereafter, while starch and ethanol concentration increased until the early 2000s and plateaued thereafter. However, the total amount of protein, starch, and ethanol increased linearly from 1980 to 2020. We concluded that maize breeding for increased grain yield has indirectly affected many traits at different rates and directions. Our results are encouraging for future progress in grain yield increase, update genetic gain information to 2020 for short‐season hybrids, and can inform plant breeders, crop physiologists, agronomists, and crop modelers.

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Section: Crop Sciencementioning

confidence: 81%

Genetic gains in short‐season corn hybrids: Grain yield, yield components, and grain quality traits

King,

Ferela,

Vyn

et al. 2024

Crop Science

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“…Changes in the plant HI due to crowding reflect the degree of competition among plants in the field (Denison, 2012), and identifying the genetic factors responsible for such responses in resource allocation can facilitate the development of high‐yielding cooperative genotypes. Although previous studies have looked into HI from a genetic point of view (Molero et al ., 2019, 2023; Dreisigacker et al ., 2021; Sierra‐Gonzalez et al ., 2021; Ruiz et al ., 2023), as far as we know, no genetic investigation has been carried out to analyse the plasticity in resource allocation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroecological genetics of biomass allocation in wheat uncovers genotype interactions with canopy shade and plant size

Golan,

Weiner,

Zhao

et al. 2024

New Phytologist

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Summary How plants distribute biomass among organs influences resource acquisition, reproduction and plant–plant interactions, and is essential in understanding plant ecology, evolution, and yield production in agriculture. However, the genetic mechanisms regulating allocation responses to the environment are largely unknown. We studied recombinant lines of wheat (Triticum spp.) grown as single plants under sunlight and simulated canopy shade to investigate genotype‐by‐environment interactions in biomass allocation to the leaves, stems, spikes, and grains. Size‐corrected mass fractions and allometric slopes were employed to dissect allocation responses to light limitation and plant size. Size adjustments revealed light‐responsive alleles associated with adaptation to the crop environment. Combined with an allometric approach, we demonstrated that polymorphism in the DELLA protein is associated with the response to shade and size. While a gibberellin‐sensitive allelic effect on stem allocation was amplified when plants were shaded, size‐dependent effects of this allele drive allocation to reproduction, suggesting that the ontogenetic trajectory of the plant affects the consequences of shade responses for allocation. Our approach provides a basis for exploring the genetic determinants underlying investment strategies in the face of different resource constraints and will be useful in predicting social behaviours of individuals in a crop community.

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“…Companion studies including these two ongoing experimental sites showed that, averaged across sites and years, grain yield was 13.56 Mg ha −1 for corn (Koehler‐Cole et al., 2023) and 4.61 Mg ha −1 for soybean (Koehler‐Cole et al., 2020) under these no‐till corn‐based systems. Assuming a harvest index of 0.554 for corn (Ruiz et al., 2023) and 0.38 for soybean (Krisnawati & Adie, 2015), the amount of aboveground biomass input at our study sites would be 10.92 Mg ha −1 for corn and 7.52 Mg ha −1 for soybean. However, the amount of biomass input from CCs, averaged across sites and years, was only 0.77 Mg ha −1 , which is only about 7% of corn and 10% of soybean biomass input.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover crops and soil health in rainfed and irrigated corn: What did we learn after 8 years?

Blanco‐Canqui

Ruis

Koehler‐Cole

et al. 2023

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Duration of cover crop (CC) management, CC biomass production, and other factors could impact how CC affects soil health. We studied the 8‐year cumulative impacts of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) CC on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in rainfed and irrigated no‐till corn (Zea mays L.)‐based systems in the western US Corn Belt. Average annual CC biomass production was 0.56 ± 0.51 Mg ha−1 at the rainfed site and 0.98 ± 0.95 Mg ha−1 at the irrigated site. After 8 years, CC improved particulate organic matter (POM) and mean weight diameter of water‐stable aggregates (MWD) compared with no CC in the 0–5 cm soil depth at both sites. Cover crop increased total POM concentration by 2.8 mg g−1 at the rainfed site and by 13.4 mg g−1 at the irrigated site, while it increased MWD by 0.39 mm at the rainfed site and by 0.79 mm at the irrigated site. Also, CC increased soil C at a rate of 0.125 Mg ha−1 year−1 in the 0–5 cm depth but only at the rainfed site. Cover crop affected neither water infiltration nor available water but improved microbial biomass. Changes in other properties were site‐dependent. Cover crop improved many soil properties after 8 years even though measurement taken after 4 years showed no significant effect of CC, which indicates CC slowly impacts properties in this environment. Low CC biomass production and high biomass input from corn‐based systems may explain the slow soil response. In general, winter rye CC enhances near‐surface soil properties in the long term.

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Harvest index has increased over the last 50 years of maize breeding

Cited by 27 publications

References 51 publications

Genetic gains in short‐season corn hybrids: Grain yield, yield components, and grain quality traits

Genetic gains in short‐season corn hybrids: Grain yield, yield components, and grain quality traits

Agroecological genetics of biomass allocation in wheat uncovers genotype interactions with canopy shade and plant size

Cover crops and soil health in rainfed and irrigated corn: What did we learn after 8 years?

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