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Northeast China (NEC) is one of the major maize production areas in China. Agro-climatic resources have obviously changed, which will seriously affect crop growth and development in this region. It is important to investigate the contribution of climate change adaptation measures to the yield and resource use efficiency to improve our understanding of how we can effectively ensure high yield and high efficiency in the future. In this study, we divided the study area into five accumulated temperature zones (ATZs) based on growing degree days (GDD). Based on the meteorological data, maize data (from agro-meteorological stations) and the validated APSIM-Maize Model, we first investigated the spatial distributions and temporal trends of maize potential yield of actual planted cultivars, and revealed the radiation use efficiency (RUE) and heat resource use efficiency (HUE) from 1981 to 2017. Then according to the potential growing seasons and actual growing seasons, we identified the utilization percentages of radiation (PR) resource and heat resource (PH) for each ATZ under potential production from 1981 to 2017. Finally, we quantified the contributions of cultivar changings to yield, PR and PH of maize. The results showed that during the past 37 years, the estimated mean potential yield of actual planted cultivars was 13 649 kg ha–1, ranged from 11 205 to 15 257 kg ha–1, and increased by 140 kg ha–1 per decade. For potential production, the mean values of RUE and HUE for the actual planted maize cultivars were 1.22 g MJ–1 and 8.58 kg (°C d)–1 ha–1. RUE showed an increasing tendency, while HUE showed a decreasing tendency. The lengths of the potential growing season and actual growing season were 158 and 123 d, and increased by 2 and 1 d per decade. PR and PH under potential production were 82 and 86%, respectively and showed a decreasing tendency during the past 37 years. This indicates that actual planted cultivars failed to make full use of climate resources. However, results from the adaptation assessments indicate that, adoption of cultivars with growing season increased by 2–11 d among ATZs caused increase in yield, PR and PH of 0.6–1.7%, 1.1–7.6% and 1.5–8.9%, respectively. Therefore, introduction of cultivars with longer growing season can effectively increase the radiation and heat utilization percentages and potential yield.

In the final steps of a breeding program, it is necessary to evaluate several traits, which makes it difficult to select the superior genotypes. This study aimed to compare nonlinear indexes in the selection of superior soybean inbred lines obtained by recurrent selection. The experiment was carried out in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. During the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, 67 soybean inbred lines and two commercial controls (BMX Potência RR and NK 7059 RR) were evaluated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates. The evaluated traits were: days to maturity, agronomic value, lodging, first pod insertion height, and grain yield. A combined analysis of variance for seasons was performed and the sum of ranks index, ideotype distance index, and cultivars selection index were applied. All traits were significant for the genotypic source of variation and showed complex genotype × environment interactions. The selection indexes were consistent with each other. The ideotype and cultivar selection index showed higher concordance on indication of 15 superior inbred lines with a coefficient of coincidence of 80%. The inbred lines SR-03, SR-12, SR-22, SR-41, SR-49, SR-55, SR-61, and SR-62 were indicated for all indexes and are therefore considered superior to other inbred lines.

Reducing irrigation water use by improving water use efficiency (WUE) in grain production is critical for the development of sustainable agriculture in the North China Plain (NCP). This article summarizes the research progresses in WUE improvement carried out at the Luancheng station located in the Northern part of NCP for the past three decades. Progresses in four aspects of yield and WUE improvement are presented, including yield and WUE improvement associated with cultivar selection, irrigation management for improving yield and WUE under limited water supply, managing root system for efficient soil water use and reducing soil evaporation by straw mulch. The results showed that annual average increase of 0.014 kg·m-3 for winter wheat and 0.02 kg·m-3 in WUE were observed for the past three decades, and this increase was largely associated with the improvement in harvest index related to cultivar renewal and an increase in chemical fertilizer use and soil fertility. The results also indicated that deficit irrigation for winter wheat could significantly reduce the irrigation water use, whereas the seasonal yield showed a smaller reduction rate and WUE was significantly improved. Straw mulching of summer maize using the straw from winter wheat could reduce seasonal soil evaporation by 30–40 mm. With new cultivars and improved management practices it was possible to further increase grain production without much increase in water use. Future strategies to further improve WUE are also discussed.

Scientific literature is lacking on cultural practices of baby leaf hemp production even though hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a widely grown crop for fiber and grain. The objective of this study was to develop a standard protocol to optimize yield and quality of baby leaf hemp production: cultivar screening, sowing density and seed size. Fresh weight (FW) and germination percentage was significantly affected by cultivars. Cultivars ‘Picolo’ and ‘X-59’ had a greater FW mainly due to greater germination percentage. In the sowing density experiment, ‘Ferimon’ and ‘Katani’ were evaluated at five seed densities, 0.65, 1.2, 1.75, 2.3 and 2.85 seeds·cm−2 (42 to 182 seeds per cell). The FW and FW per plant (FWPP) had a positive quadratic response and negative quadratic response, respectively. Regarding seed size, cultivars ‘Anka,’ ‘Ferimon’ and ‘Picolo’ had the largest percentage of seeds, 26% to 30%, within the medium width size between 3.18 and 3.37 mm. Using the largest sized seeds (3.77 mm) increased FW by 34%, 26% and 23% as compared to non-sorted ‘Anka’, ‘Ferimon’ and ‘Picolo’ seeds, respectively. Overall, a greater understanding of cultivar selection, sowing density and seed-size distribution can promote greater yield and quality of baby leaf hemp as an edible salad green.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the adaptability and stability of corn hybrids for grain yield in environments with high crop management standards. Ten corn hybrids were evaluated for grain yield in 48 environments, consisting of 12 locations over a period of four years inSouth Brazil. A complete experimental, random block design with two repetitions was used. Adaptability and stability were analyzed according to the bi-segmented discontinuous model with measurement errors in the variables. The behavior of hybrids was studied as a function of the average yield in the inferior and/or superior environments, the estimates of the parameters of the equation, and the quality of the fit. The 30F36 hybrid behaved better in the superior environments and it is indicated for farmers who adopt the highest technological standards for crop management, whereas the 30F53 hybrid was classified as close to ideal; that is, it is indicated for cultivation under various environmental conditions. The 30R50 and 32R48 hybrids are appropriate only for average environments. There is a very good phenotypic stability in simple hybrids associated with high potential yield.

Resumo: A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é cultivada em todo o Brasil, dando origem a produtos e insumos para diversos segmentos industriais. O teor de ácido cianídrico (HCN) nas suas raízes frescas orienta o destino dos cultivares para a produção de farinha e fécula ou para o consumo de mesa, principalmente nas formas que envolvem cozimentos e chips. Presente na agricultura familiar, a mandioca de mesa tem relevância crescente como fonte de alimento, renda e emprego. A interação dessa planta com o ambiente dificulta a oferta de raízes conforme as exigências dos mercados, realidade agravada pelo comportamento distinto dos inúmeros genótipos em uso pelos agricultores. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar genótipos de mandioca de mesa oriundos do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Mandioca da Epagri em diferentes ambientes de Santa Catarina. Foram conduzidos experimentos em blocos casualizados com três repetições em quatro diferentes zonas agroecológicas do Estado e avaliados indicadores quantitativos e qualitativos dos cultivares. Os cultivares SCS260 Uirapuru, SCS261 Ajubá, SCS262 Sempre Pronto e SCS263 Guapo são os mais promissores aipins entre os avaliados do Banco de Germoplasma da Epagri.

O rendimento de grãos do feijão é afetado pela ocorrência de alta temperatura do ar, durante o período reprodutivo. Sendo assim, foi objetivo do trabalho avaliar a variabilidade genética do feijão para tolerância à alta temperatura do ar durante o período de pré-floração (R5) à formação de vagens (R7). O experimento foi conduzido em câmara de crescimento (fitotron), com controle de temperatura, luz, fotoperíodo e demais condições ótimas de cultivo. Durante o subperíodo R5-R7, as plantas foram submetidas à temperatura de 30°C, durante uma hora, diariamente. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, e avaliaram-se 20 cultivares de feijão. Comportamento diferenciado foi observado para as características fenológicas, reprodutivas e dos componentes da produção, indicando variabilidade genética para tolerância à alta temperatura do ar durante o subperíodo R5-R7. As cultivares de feijão "Pérola", "TPS Bonito", "BRS Valente" e "Corrente" são tolerantes à temperatura do ar de 30°C por uma hora, durante o período reprodutivo.Common bean grain yield is affected by high air temperature during the reproductive period. This study was aimed at evaluating common bean genetic variability for tolerance to high air temperature during the pre-flowering (R5) and pod formation (R7) period. The experiment was conducted in a phytotron, with controlled air temperature, light and photoperiod and other conditions for optimum growth. During the R5-R7 period, plants were exposed to 30°C air temperature during one hour a day. The experimental design used was a completely randomized with three replications and 20 common bean cultivars. Differences in phenological and reproductive traits and yield components, indicated genetic variability for tolerance to high air temperature during the R5-R7 period. Cultivars ‘Pérola’, ‘TPS Bonito’, ‘BRS Valente’ and ‘Corrente’ were tolerant to air temperature of 30°C during one hour a day during the reproductive period.