Trends in Maize Grain Yields across Five Maturity Groups in a Long-Term Experiment with Changing Genotypes

Abstract

Combining experimental studies on grain yield variability with crop model simulations in maize could assist in choosing the optimum maturity group for a certain location, counteracting the effect of climate change. However, studies considering specificities in Southeast Europe are lacking. The objectives were to put various environmental covariates including stress degree days (SDD) into FAO maturity settings to determine the impact of climate change on maize growing in Southeast Europe and to compare trends for grain yields over twenty years of maize experimental and simulation data grouped in five FAO maturity groups (FAO 200–FAO 600). Pre-registration yield trials of maize planted in one location in Croatia grown from 1996 to 2015 were used to determine “potential yield”. Correlation coefficients between 12 climate covariates and grain yield (GY) across the maturity groups revealed the tightest negative associations between SDD and GY that were weakened by later-maturity groups. Similar trends in GY were obtained by both experimental and simulation data, highlighting FAO 600 as a nearly no yield-reducing FAO group over the two decades. Our results indicate that choosing early maize hybrids in Southeast Europe does not seem to be an optimum option in the future, since these hybrids are more sensitive to omnipresent heat stress than late hybrids.

Multivariate Interaction Analysis of Zea mays L. Genotypes Growth Productivity in Different Environmental Conditions

“…In general, late-maturing hybrids expressed higher productivity in the more favorable 2021 growing season than in the 2022 growing season. The negative impact of heat on maize grain yields during the critical grain-filling stages of maize across different FAO maturity groups has been observed in several studies [49,50]. According to Khan et al [51], high temperature during critical stages has a negative impact and gives rise to low grain weight.…”

Graphical estimation of genetic characteristics for maize inbred lines and selection of superior hybrids by genotype by yield*trait (GYT) biplot

“…Among the existing restrictions for maize cultivation in different regions, selecting a variety that reaches the physiological maturity stage and harvestable moisture before the average rst frost is necessary (Baum et al 2019). The maize grain yield generally increases with the increase in the plant growth duration (maturity) (Yang et al 2019; Buhiniček et al 2021). However, high grain moisture at harvest time may also be another critical limitation for the farmer.…”

Influence of maize hybrids and seed size after processing on the physical characteristics of the seeds, germination and races growth

“…Intensive maize breeding has produced many hybrids that are highly variable depending on the growing season, grain yield, and intended use (Buhiniček et al 2021). ).…”