Search

Characterization of crop-growing environments in relation to crop's genotypic performance is crucial to harness positive genotype-by-environment interactions (GEI) in systematic breeding programs. Given that, the study aimed to delineate the impact of diverse environments on crop phenology and yield traits of dwarf-statured field pea, pinpointing location(s) favoring higher yield and distinctiveness within breeding lines. We tested twelve field pea breeding lines across twenty locations in India, covering Central Zone (CZ), North Western Plain Zone (NWPZ), North Eastern Plain Zone (NEPZ), and Northern Hill Zone (NHZ). Across these locations, maximum and minimum temperatures during flowering (TMAXF, TMINF) and reproductive period (TMAXRP, TMINRP) ranged 18.9–28.3, 3.3–18.0, 15.0-30.8, and 7.9-22.1oC, respectively. Meanwhile, notable variations in phenological and agronomic traits (coefficient of variation) were observed: flowering (31%), days to maturity (21%), reproductive period (18%), grain yield (48%), and 100-seed weight (18%). Combined ANOVA demonstrated an oversized impact of environment (81%) on yield, while genotype and GEI effects were 2% and 14%, respectively. The variables TMINF, TMINRP, and cumulative growing degree-day showed positive correlations with yield, while extended vegetative and maturity durations negatively influenced yield (p < 0.05). Additionally, linear mixed-models and PCA results explained that instability in crop phenology had significant influence on field pea yield. Seed weight was markedly varied within the locations (9.9–20.8 g) and both higher and lower seed weights were associated with lower yields (Optimal = 17.1 g). HA-GGE biplot-based on environment focus-scaling demonstrated three mega-environments and specific locations viz. Kota (CZ), SK Nagar (CZ), Raipur (CZ), Sehore (CZ), and Pantnagar (NWPZ) as the ideal testing-environments with high efficiency in selecting new genotypes with wider adaptability. The study findings highlight distinct impact of environments on crop phenology and agronomic traits of field pea (dwarf-type), hold substantial value in designing efficient field pea (dwarf-type) breeding program at mega-environment scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Durum wheat (DW) is one of the major crops grown in the Mediterranean area, a climate-vulnerable region where the increase in day/night (d/n) temperature is severely threatening DW yield stability. In order to improve DW heat tolerance, the introgression of chromosomal segments derived from the wild gene pool is a promising strategy. Here, four DW-Thinopyrum spp. near-isogenic recombinant lines (NIRLs) were assessed for their physiological response and productive performance after intense heat stress (IH, 37/27 °C d/n) had been applied for 3 days at anthesis. The NIRLs included two primary types (R5, R112), carriers (+) of a differently sized Th. ponticum 7el1L segment on the DW 7AL arm, and two corresponding secondary types (R69-9/R5, R69-9/R112), possessing a Th. elongatum 7EL segment distally inserted into the 7el1L ones. Their response to the IH stress was compared to that of corresponding non-carrier sib lines (−) and the heat-tolerant cv. Margherita. Overall, the R112+, R69-9/R5+ and R69-9/R112+ NIRLs exhibited a tolerant behaviour towards the applied stress, standing out for the maintenance of leaf relative water content but also for the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars in the flag leaf and the preservation of photosynthetic efficiency. As a result, all the above three NIRLs (R112+ > R69-9/R5+ > R69-9/R112+) displayed good yield stability under the IH, also in comparison with cv. Margherita. R112+ particularly relied on the strength of spike fertility/grain number traits, while R69-9/R5+ benefited from efficient compensation by the grain weight increase. This work largely confirmed and further substantiated the value of exploiting the wild germplasm of Thinopyrum species as a useful source for the improvement of DW tolerance to even extreme abiotic stress conditions, such as the severe heat treatment throughout day- and night-time applied here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RD6, the most popular glutinous rice in Thailand, is high in quality but susceptible to blast and bacterial blight disease. It was thus improved for disease resistance through marker-assisted backcross selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of improved near isogenic lines. Eight RD6 rice near isogenic lines (NILs) derived from MAS were selected for evaluation with RD6, a standard susceptible check variety, as well as recurrent parent for a total of nine genotypes. The experiment was conducted during the wet season under six environments at three locations, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, and Roi Et, which was repeated at two years from 2019 to 2020. Nine genotypes, including eight RD6 rice near isogenic lines (NILs) selected from two in-tandem breeding programs and the standard check variety RD6, were evaluated to select the high-performance new improved lines. The first group, including four NILs G1–G4, was gene pyramiding of blast and BB resistance genes, and the second group, including another four NILs G5–G8, was gene pyramiding of blast resistance and salt tolerance genes. Field disease screening was observed for all environments. Two disease occurrences, blast (leaf blast) and bacterial blight, were found during the rainy season of all environments. The NILs containing blast resistance genes were excellent in gene expression. On the other hand, the improved lines containing the xa5 gene were not highly resistant under the severe stress of bacterial blight (Nong Khai 2020). Notwithstanding, G2 was greater among the NILs for yield maintenance than the other genotypes. The agronomic traits of most NILs were the same as RD6. Interestingly, the traits of G2 were different in plant type from RD6, specifically photosensitivity and plant height. Promising rice RD6 NILs with high yield stability, good agronomic traits, and disease resistance were identified in the genotypes G1, G2, and G7. The high yield stability G1 and G7 are recommended for widespread use in rain-fed areas. The G2 is specifically recommended for use in the bacterial blight (BB) disease prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory plant breeding (PPB) is a collaborative process between farmers, plant breeders and researchers to create germplasm specifically bred for target environments. We sought to examine the yield performance and adaptability of genotypes from an organic PPB wheat programme under organic management across the Canadian prairies. We evaluated 25 farmer genotypes and 6 commercial cultivars in locations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, totalling 12 organic environments. The top performers most responsive to higher yield environments were three farmer genotypes (BL34‐SW, BL43C‐TM and BJ13‐GW) and one check cultivar (Vesper). Genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE) biplot analysis indicated that one farmer genotype (BL23‐AS) and one check cultivar (Vesper) demonstrated high yield and greater organic adaptation than other genotypes tested. Two registered cultivars (AAC Brandon and Jake) had low yield and poor adaptation, as did one farmer genotype (PWA10B‐LD). Yield was positively and strongly correlated with height, anthesis and mature biomass and kernel number per unit area. The results provide evidence that early generation farmer selection is an effective breeding strategy for discovering wheat genotypes with high yield and excellent adaptability to organic production systems in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the most adverse factors affecting plant growth and productivity. Identifying elite genotypes and their ideotypic traits conferring high yield potential and drought tolerance is critical in selecting and breeding drought‐tolerant wheat cultivars. In this study, we conducted field experiments at the Xinxiang Agricultural Comprehensive Experimental station in the North China Plain from 2018 to 2020 and assessed 209 wheat cultivars released since the 1940s under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Then, we selected drought‐tolerant cultivars by classifying them into four groups based on yield response to drought stress and several drought indices. Finally, the key ideotypic traits associated with high yield potential and drought tolerance were identified. Results indicated that the grain yield of the 209 cultivars decreased on average by 10.4% and 9.4% under nonirrigated treatment in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, respectively, relative to full irrigation. The high‐yielding cultivars under both irrigation treatments are characterised by a compact plant type, larger thousand‐grain weight, larger chlorophyll content, higher leaf photosynthesis, shorter plant height and stay‐green traits. The stomatal and nonstomatal limitations are strongly associated with genotype yield performance, elucidating a potential mechanism underlying drought tolerance. Drought tolerance and yield stability of wheat cultivars have been improved through breeding over the past 70 years. Our findings enhance understanding of drought tolerance and identify genotypes and traits beneficial for breeding high‐yielding and drought‐tolerant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring agriculture by remote sensing enables large‐scale evaluation of biomass production across space and time. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used as a proxy for green biomass. Here, we used satellite‐derived NDVI of arable farms in the Netherlands to evaluate changes in biomass following conversion from conventional to organic farming. We compared NDVI and the stability of NDVI across 72 fields on sand and marine clay soils. Thirty‐six of these fields had been converted into organic agriculture between 0 and 50 years ago (with 2017 as reference year), while the other 36 were paired control fields where conventional farming continued. We used high‐resolution images from the Sentinel‐2 satellite to obtain NDVI estimates across 5 years (January 2016–October 2020). Overall, NDVI did not differ between conventional and organic management during the time series, but NDVI stability was significantly higher under organic management. NDVI was lower under organic management in sandy, but not in clay, soils. Organic farms that had been converted less than ~19 years ago had lower NDVI than conventional farms. However, the difference diminished over time and eventually turned positive after ~19 years since the conversion. NDVI, averaged across the 5 years of study, was positively correlated to soil Olsen‐P measured from soil samples collected in 2017. We conclude that NDVI in organic fields was more stable than in conventional fields, and that the lower biomass in the early years since the transition to organic agriculture can be overcome with time. Our study also indicates the role of soil P bioavailability for plant biomass production across the examined fields, and the benefit of combining remote sensing with on‐site soil measurements to develop a more mechanistic understanding that may help us navigate the transition to a more sustainable type of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn, Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae), growers in the US Cotton Belt are required to plant 20% of total corn acres to non-Bt hybrids for resistance management (non-Bt refuge). Most growers do not meet this requirement, in part, because they perceive non-Bt hybrids to yield less than Bt hybrids. We planted multiple non-Bt and Bt hybrids from a single company in small-plot replicated trials at a single location from 2019 to 2023, as well as in small-plot replicated trials at multiple locations during 2022 and 2023. In the single location, we measured kernel injury from corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and we recorded yield at all locations. In the single location trial, yields only separated among hybrids in 3 out of 5 years. In the multiple location trial, yields were variable between both years. We found that Bt hybrids tended to yield higher than non-Bt hybrids overall, but this was influenced by the inclusion of non-Bt hybrids that had a lower overall genetic yield potential in the environments we tested them in. In both tests, when hybrids were analyzed during each year, both Bt and non-Bt hybrids were among the statistically highest yielders. Our study demonstrates the importance of comparing multiple Bt and non-Bt hybrids to draw yield comparisons. This highlights the need for corn seed company breeders to put effort into improving yield for non-Bt hybrids. Hopefully this effort will translate into increased planting of non-Bt refuge corn for growers in the US Cotton Belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the effects of maize and soybean intercropping for improving the maize yield and sustaining stability of the maize yield under different phosphate (P) application rates in red soil is crucial for promoting maize productivity, improving soil fertility and optimizing P nutrient management in southwest China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamic changes in maize yield, yield stability and soil fertility under monoculture and intercropping maize with different P application rates. A six-year field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2022 to investigate the effects of maize intercropping with soybean on the yield stability and sustainability of maize according to the changes in the maize yield, biomass, partial land equivalent ratio of yield (pLERY), actual yield loss index (AYL), contribution rate of soil capacity and fertilizer (SCR, SFCR) over time, as well as the differences in the coefficient of variation (CV) and sustainable yield index (SYI) at four P application rates (0 kg P2O5 ha−1, P0; 60 kg P2O5 ha−1, P1; 90 kg P2O5 ha−1, P2; and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1, P3) based on the two-factor randomized block design. The linear-platform model was utilized to simulate the relationship between the grain yield, the SYI and the amount of P fertilizer under different P application rates. The maize yield in intercropping was significantly superior to the maize yield in monoculture throughout the entire six-year experiment. For all planting years, the yield and biomass of the intercropping were higher than those of the matched monoculture average by 56.0% and 56.1%, respectively. Intercropping had an advantage of pLERY and AYL for maize. Otherwise, intercropping reduced the CV by 30.8% and 39.1% and increased the SYI by 39.4% and 23.0% in P0 and P3 compared with the matched monoculture, respectively. For all planting years, the average SFCR in intercropping treatment was higher than that in monoculture treatment. The linear-plateau model fitted showed that intercropping increased the yield and SYI by 19.8% and 40.7% on the platform and reduced the P application rate by 37.8% and 11.9% at the inflection point, respectively. These results demonstrate that maize and soybean intercropping could achieve a higher yield, a higher yield stability and an SYI with a lower P input than monoculture. Maize and soybean intercropping could be a sustainable practice for promoting the maize productivity and the yield sustainability in the red soil of southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salt, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal pollution, are the main environmental factors that limit crop growth and yield. Sorghum, a C4 grass plant with high photosynthetic efficiency, can grow in adverse environmental conditions due to its excellent stress resistance characteristics. Therefore, unraveling the stress-resistance mechanism of sorghum could provide a theoretical basis for developing and cultivating various stress-resistant crops. This understanding could also help to create a conducive environment for using marginal soil in agriculture and ensuring food security. In this review, we discuss the adaptation mechanisms of sorghum under drought, salinity, temperature, and soil heavy metal stresses, the specific response to stress, the screening of sorghum-resistant germplasm, and the identification and functional analysis of the relevant genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL). In addition, we discuss the application potential of different stress-tolerant sorghum germplasms reported to date and emphasize the feasibility and potential use in developing and promoting highly stress-tolerant sorghum in marginal soil.

Accurate evaluation of crop performance and yield prediction at a sub-field scale is essential for achieving high yields while minimizing environmental impacts. Two important approaches for improving agronomic management and predicting future crop yields are the spatial stability of historic crop yields and in-season remote sensing imagery. However, the relative accuracies of these approaches have not been well characterized. In this study, we aim to first, assess the accuracies of yield stability and in-season remote sensing for predicting yield patterns at a sub-field resolution across multiple fields, second, investigate the optimal satellite image date for yield prediction, and third, relate bi-weekly changes in GCVI through the season to yield levels. We hypothesize that historical yield stability zones provide high accuracies in identifying yield patterns compared to within-season remote sensing images. To conduct this evaluation, we utilized biweekly Planet images with visible and near-infrared bands from June through September (2018–2020), along with observed historical yield maps from 115 maize fields located in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota, USA. We compared the yield stability zones (YSZ) with the in-season remote sensing data, specifically focusing on the green chlorophyll vegetative index (GCVI). Our analysis revealed that yield stability maps provided more accurate estimates of yield within both high stable (HS) and low stable (LS) yield zones within fields compared to any single-image in-season remote sensing model. For the in-season remote sensing predictions, we used linear models for a single image date, as well as multi-linear and random forest models incorporating multiple image dates. Results indicated that the optimal image date for yield prediction varied between and within fields, highlighting the instability of this approach. However, the multi-image models, incorporating multiple image dates, showed improved prediction accuracy, achieving R2 values of 0.66 and 0.86 by September 1st for the multi-linear and random forest models, respectively. Our analysis revealed that most low or high GCVI values of a pixel were consistent across the season (77%), with the greatest instability observed at the beginning and end of the growing season. Interestingly, the historical yield stability zones provided better predictions of yield compared to the bi-weekly dynamics of GCVI. The historically high-yielding areas started with low GCVI early in the season but caught up, while the low-yielding areas with high initial GCVI faltered. In conclusion, the historical yield stability zones in the US Midwest demonstrated robust predictive capacity for in-field heterogeneity in stable zones. Multi-image models showed promise for assessing unstable zones during the season, but it is crucial to link these two approaches to fully capture both stable and unstable zones of crop yield. This study provides opportunities to achieve better precision management and yield prediction by integrating historical crop yields and remote sensing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: To maintain rice production and increase revenue, rice–duck (RD) farming is a contemporary ecological cycle technology that has been widely used in Asia. However, due to the clustering activity of duck flocks, the consequences of long‐term RD farming on rice growth at different scales are still unknown. Here, we studied RD farming using several different treatments (CK: conventional rice farming; RD1: 667 m2; RD2: 2000 m2; and RD3: 3333 m2). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the maximum tillers, effective spikes, dry matter accumulation, and lodging index of rice under RD farming were significantly decreased by 17.9%, 9.8%, 14.8%, and 17.8%, respectively, which ultimately caused a significant decrease in yield of 10.6%. However, RD farming significantly increased root oxidation activity and the ear‐bearing tiller rate of rice by 25.5% and 11.1%, respectively, and improved yield stability. For different scales of RD farming, the lodging resistance index of RD1 was significantly lower than that of RD2 and RD3 by 10.0% and 15.2%, respectively, whereas the root oxidation activity and dry matter accumulation of RD2 were significantly higher than those of RD1 and RD3 by 11.1%, 4.7%, 8.6%, and 5.1%, respectively. For rice yield, there was no significant difference among the different scales. CONCLUSION: This long‐term experiment helped elucidate the complicated effects of RD farming at different scales on the growth and yield of rice. It is also critical to consider the economic advantages of different scales of RD farming to assess the impact of this system more thoroughly. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought-induced stress poses a significant challenge to wheat throughout its growth, underscoring the importance of identifying drought-stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for enhancing grain yield. Here, we evaluated 18 yield-related agronomic and physiological traits, along with their drought tolerance indices, in a recombinant inbred line population derived from the XC7 × XC21 cross. These evaluations were conducted under both non-stress and drought-stress conditions. Drought stress significantly reduced grain weight per spike and grain yield per plot. Genotyping the recombinant inbred line population using the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphism array resulted in the identification of 131 QTLs associated with the 18 traits. Drought stress also exerted negative impacts on grain formation and filling, directly leading to reductions in grain weight per spike and grain yield per plot. Among the identified QTLs, 43 were specifically associated with drought tolerance across the 18 traits, with 6 showing direct linkages to drought tolerance in wheat. These results provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms governing wheat growth and development, as well as the traits contributing to the drought tolerance index. Moreover, they serve as a theoretical foundation for the development of new wheat cultivars having exceptional drought tolerance and high yield potentials under both drought-prone and drought-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilocation trials are usually performed in breeding and variety evaluation programs to identify stable genotype(s) with similar crop performance in various environments. The present study evaluated the stability of six selected potato varieties (BARI Alu-7, BARI Alu-8, BARI Alu-25, BARI Alu-28, BARI Alu-36, and BARI Alu-41) suitable for multiple locations (Barishal, Bogura, Cumilla, Jamalpur, Jashore, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi) in Bangladesh from 2014 to 2019. The study considered genotype and environment as treatments, year as replications and used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with to construct the genotype plus genotype-vs-environment interaction (GGE) model. The joint analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes and environments (GE). The scores of PC1 (principal component 1) and PC2 (principal component 2) cumulatively explained approximately 63 % of the total variation in GE interactions and were used to construct the GGE biplot. BARI Alu-8 and BARI Alu-28 were the best genotypes, with high average yields and high stability across the locations. Jamalpur and Munshiganj was identified as the desired locations among the tested environments for growing all the genotypes. This study will help potato growers select highly stable high-performance varieties for a particular environment to achieve maximum tuber production.

Durum wheat is a staple food in the Mediterranean Basin, mostly cultivated under rainfed conditions. As such, the crop is often exposed to moisture stress. Therefore, the identification of genetic factors controlling the capacity of genotypes to convert moisture into grain yield (i.e. water productivity) is quintessential to stabilize production despite climatic variations. A global panel of 384 accessions was tested across 18 Mediterranean environments (in Morocco, Lebanon, and Jordan) representing a vast range of moisture levels. The accessions were assigned to water responsiveness classes, with genotypes 'Responsive to Low Moisture' reaching an average +1.5 kg ha–1 mm–1 yield advantage. Genome wide association studies revealed that six loci explained most of this variation. A second validation panel tested under moisture stress confirmed that carrying the positive allele at three loci on chromosomes 1B, 2A, and 7B generated an average water productivity gain of +2.2 kg ha–1 mm–1. These three loci were tagged by kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers, and these were used to screen a third independent validation panel composed of elites tested across moisture stressed sites. The three KASP combined predicted up to 10% of the variation for grain yield at 60% accuracy. These loci are now ready for molecular pyramiding and transfer across cultivars to improve the moisture conversion of durum wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice production faces challenges related to diverse climate change processes. Heat stress combined with low humidity, water scarcity, and salinity are the foremost threats in its cultivation. The present investigation aimed at identifying the most resilient rice genotypes with yield stability to cope with the current waves of climate change. A total of 34 rice genotypes were exposed to multilocation trials. These locations had different environmental conditions, mainly normal, heat stress with low humidity, and salinity-affected soils. The genotypes were assessed for their yield stability under these conditions. The newly developed metan package of R-studio was employed to perform additive main effects and multiplicative interactions modelling and genotype-by-environment modelling. The results indicated that there were highly significant differences among the tested genotypes and environments. The main effects of the environments accounted for the largest portion of the total yield sum of squared deviations, while different sets of genotypes showed good performance in different environments. AMMI1 and GGE biplots confirmed that Giza179 was the highest-yielding genotype, whereas Giza178 was considered the most-adopted and highest-yielding genotype across environments. These findings were further confirmed by the which–won–where analysis, which explained that Giza178 has the greatest adaptability to the different climatic conditions under study. While Giza179 was the best under normal environments, N22 recorded the uppermost values under heat stress coupled with low humidity, and GZ1968-S-5-4 manifested superior performance regarding salinity-affected soils. Giza 177 was implicated regarding harsh environments. The mean vs. stability-based rankings indicated that the highest-ranked genotypes were Giza179 > Giza178 > IET1444 > IR65600-77 > GZ1968-S-5-4 > N22 > IR11L236 > IR12G3213. Among them, Giza178, IR65600-77, and IR12G3213 were the most stable genotypes. Furthermore, these results were confirmed by cluster-analysis-based stability indices. A significant and positive correlation was detected between the overall yield under all the environments with panicle length, number of panicles per plant, and thousand grain weight. Our study sheds light on the notion that the Indica/Japonica and Indica types have greater stability potential over the Japonica ones, as well as the potential utilization of genotypes with wide adaptability, stability, and high yield, such as Giza178, in the breeding programs for climate change resilience in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses to wheat worldwide, with negative effects on wheat growth and yield. Assessing genetic variation and drought stress tolerance of key agronomic and physiological traits of spring wheat and screening germplasm resources for higher drought tolerance and yield stability are a prerequisite for developing new, better-adapted spring wheat varieties. This study evaluated nine important agronomic and physiological traits in 152 spring wheat cultivars under non-stress (NS) and drought-stress (DS) conditions. Under DS conditions, grain yield per plot (GYP) and grain weight per spike (GWE) were significantly reduced by 33.8% and 31.7%, and their drought-tolerance indexes (DIs) were only 0.66 and 0.69, respectively, indicating that GYP and GWE are the most susceptible traits to drought stress. The SPAD value of flag leave at flowering stage decreased by 13.9% under DS conditions, and the DI of SPAD was 0.86. In addition, DI-SPAD was significantly positively correlated with DIs of plant height (PH), grain number per spikelet (GPS), grain number per spike (GNS), GWE and GYP, indicating that the drought tolerance and yield of wheat are closely related to chlorophyll retention. Six wheat germplasm accessions were identified for their ability to sustain grain yield and improve drought tolerance simultaneously. These results provide insights into the genetic co-variation between grain yield and drought stress tolerance and provide a theoretical basis for the development of new wheat cultivars with excellent drought tolerance and high yields in the presence and absence of drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice yield stability is a breeding goal, particularly for short-growth duration rice, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In an attempt to identify the relationship between yield stability and source-sink characteristics in short-growth duration rice, a field experiment was conducted at three sites (Yueyang, Liuyang, and Hengyang) in 2021 and 2022. This study compared yield, yield components, source-sink characteristics, and their stability between two stable-yielding short-growth duration rice cultivars, Zhongzao 39 (Z-39) and Lingliangyou 268 (L-268), and two unstable-yielding short-growth duration rice cultivars, Zhongjiazao 17 (Z-17) and Zhuliangyou 819 (Z-819). The stability of agronomic parameters was represented by the coefficient of variation (CV). The respective CVs of yield in Z-17, Z-819, Z-39, and L268 were 10.2%, 10.1%, 4.5%, and 5.7% in 2021 and 19.7%, 15.0%, 5.4%, and 6.5% in 2022. The respective CVs of grain weight were 6.3%, 5.7%, 3.4%, and 4.5% in Z-17, Z-819, Z-39, and L-268 in 2021, and 8.1%, 6.3%, 1.5%, and 0.8% in 2022. The mean source capacity per spikelet and pre-heading non-structural carbohydrate reserves per spikelet (NSCpre) were 7%-43% and 7%-72% lower in Z-819 and Z-17 than in L-268 and Z-39 in 2021 and 2022. The mean quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry of leaf, leaf area index, and specific leaf weight of L-268 and Z-39 were higher than those of Z-819 and Z-17 at the heading stage. This study suggests that high NSCpre, caused by great leaf traits before heading, increases source capacity per spikelet and its stability, thereby increasing the stability of grain weight and yield. Increasing NSCpre is critical for achieving grain weight and yield stability in short-growth duration rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop variety mixtures can provide many benefits, including pathogen suppression and increased yield and yield stability. However, these benefits do not necessarily occur in all mixtures, and the benefits of diversity may be compromised by disadvantages due to increased crop heterogeneity. In-field development of mixtures by assembling many combinations of crop genotypes without prior expectation about which genotypes need to be combined to produce well-performing mixtures results in prohibitively large designs. Therefore, effective tools are required to narrow down the number of promising variety mixtures, and to then identify in experiments which of these deliver the highest benefits. Here, we first review current knowledge about the mechanisms underlying effects in ecological diversity experiments and in current agricultural applications. We then discuss some of the principal difficulties arising in the application of this knowledge to develop good variety mixtures. We also discuss non-conventional approaches to solve some of these issues. In particular, we highlight the potential and limitations of trait-based methods to determine good variety mixing partners, and argue that nontraditional traits and trait-derived metrics may be needed for the trait-based approach to deliver its full potential. Specifically, we argue that good mixing partners can be identified using modern genetic and genomic approaches. Alternatively, good mixtures may be obtained by combining varieties that respond differently to environmental variation; such varieties could easily be identified in standard variety testing trials. Preliminary analyses show that niche differences underlying the different environmental responses can indicate functional complementarity and promote mixture yield and yield stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advancements have revolutionized agriculture in Asia, leading to significant changes in crop yield stability. This study examines the changing face of crop yield stability in Asia resulting from the increasing adoption of innovative technologies in agriculture. Through a review of current research and case studies, the impact of technology-driven changes on yield levels, variability, and predictability is explored. The study applies a yield stability index (YSI) to evaluate the yield stability of six crops in seven Asian countries during two periods (1961–1994 and 1995–2020), comparing the countries, crops, and stability changes between the two segments. The novelty of the research is the application of YSI, which, contrary to usual stability metrics, can distinguish between rare large extreme yields and frequent minor fluctuations, and based on this feature, evaluates the suitability of the prevailing technologies to local environmental conditions. The YSI is used to evaluate the stability of technologies, indicating whether the technologies can respond well to the annual variations of environmental conditions. Positive YSI values indicate stable technologies that can respond well to the annual variations of environmental conditions, and the concept of a well-technologized crop is used for crops in countries with stable positive YSI values, indicating the suitability of the actual crop to the actual geographical environment. These results can guide production technology developments and the introduction or abandonment of certain crops in certain geographical zones, especially regarding the implications of climate change and global warming. This study highlights the transformative power of technology in improving crop yield stability and food security in Asia, while discussing the potential challenges associated with these changes and the need for continued research to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate changes have led to severe and frequent drought stress in many areas, seriously threatening the stability of yield in wheat. Exploring the quantitative trait loci for yield stability under drought condition is needed for wheat molecular breeding. In this study, we collected a panel of 432 diverse wheat accessions from different regions around the world and evaluated the drought stress susceptibility index of wheat yield-related phenotypes under drought stress and genotyped the panel with the wheat660K SNP array. Genome-wide association analysis has identified 40 yield stability-related loci, which distribute on various chromosomes. Four loci on Chromosome 1 A, 2B, 3 A and 7B are associate with more than two phenotypic indicators, explaining 1.59% − 8.07% of the phenotypic variation. Among them, Qgns.cas-3A.2 is a novel QTL for wheat yield stability under drought stress. Venn diagram analysis on the drought-responsive expression patterns of Qtgw.cas-3A genes in drought-tolerant and sensitive cultivars, and linkage disequilibrium analysis of the 57Kb region flanking SNP marker AX-108784842 on chromosomes 3 A which displays the highest confidence identified the same candidate gene, which encodes a glycosyl hydrolases family 17 protein. Haplotype analysis indicated that GG allele of this gene is the favorable allele for wheat yield stability under drought. Taken together, these results provide new insights on understanding the genetic basis of wheat yield stability under drought stress and new tools for developing molecular markers to engineer drought-tolerant wheat cultivars.

The knowledge on yield stability and variability of hybrid cultivars cultivated in a mixture with triticale over the years is limited. Therefore, a two-factorial experiment with the cropping system (pure vs. mixture) and the cultivar type (hybrid vs. open pollinated) as factors was conducted on chernozem soil in continental conditions (47°24′N, 7°19′E, 300 m a.s.l.) in three seasons to assess the effect of yield and yield stability of two cereal mixtures. Four approaches to yield stability calculations were used. Lower stability was noted for mixtures with open-pollinated rye cultivars compared with hybrid cultivars. The adjusted coefficients of variation (aCV) indicated that the yield was more stable in mixtures with the hybrid variety. The yield Stability Index Delta ( SI Delta ), which provides information about yield stability across the years, depends on the mixture components and weather fluctuation. The highest value of SI Delta was obtained for the hybrid cultivar in the mixture ( SI Delta = 2.95), compared to the open-pollinated rye cultivar in the mixture ( SI Delta = 0.47). The yield stability analyzed using linear regression (Y exp against Yobs for each crop mixture) indicated slope values less than one for the hybrid rye, suggesting higher mean grain yields in intercrops (observed yield) compared to the corresponding two sole crops (expected yield) across the three study years. The cultivation of the Palazzo hybrid rye in a mixture with triticale (cv. Borowik or Borwo) showed higher yield stability compared with that of the open-pollinated Amber cultivar. The study confirms that the inclusion of hybrid cultivars of winter cereals in mixed crops is justified by increased yield stability in comparison with open-pollinated cultivars. The use of hybrid rye as a component of mixed crops should be considered, as it shows higher productivity and greater yield stability than open-pollinated cultivars.

Anther culture is a widely utilized technique in rice breeding because of its simplicity and effectiveness in rapidly obtaining pure lines in the form of doubled haploid plants. The selection of doubled haploid (DH) rice lines derived from anther culture in advanced yield trials is an important step for obtaining superior DH lines. We aimed to determine agronomic performance, including yield and yield stability in order to select lowland DH rice lines that are high yield and have good agronomic performance based on the selection index method. The research was conducted in Indonesia at three locations, i.e., Bogor (West Java), Indramayu (West Java) and Malang (East Java) from July to December 2022. The genotypes tested were 29 DH lines and three check varieties (Inpari-42 Agritan GSR, Inpari-18 Agritan and Bioni63 Ciherang Agritan) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with genotypes as a single factor and three replications. High heritability values are found in all agronomic characters, except the percentage of filled grain/panicle, the percentage of empty grain/panicle and productivity. The yield stability based on the Kang method showed that 15 lines were stable and had high productivity. Phenotypic correlation analysis showed that the number of productive tillers, days to flowering, days to harvesting, number of filled grains/panicle and percentage of filled grains all had positive values and significantly correlated with productivity. Phenotypic path analysis showed that the character of days to harvesting, number of filled grains/panicle, number of productive tillers and percentage of filled grains/panicle directly affected the productivity. Based on the weighted selection index, 12 DH lines were selected due to having a positive and higher index (8.54 to 0.28) than the Bioni63 Agritan and Inpari 18 check varieties. Among those lines, 9 DH lines were also stable based on the Kang Method.

A mixture of controlled-release urea and normal urea (CRUNU) is an efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer type, but little is known about its effects on stem lodging resistance, grain yield, and yield stability of wheat. In this study, a 4-year field experiment (from 2017 to 2021) was conducted to analyze the effects of N fertilizer types (CRUNU and normal urea (NU)) and application rates (low level (L), 135 kg ha−1; medium level (M), 180 kg ha−1; high level (H), 225 kg ha−1) on population lodging resistance, basal internode strength, lignin content and synthetase activity, stem lodging resistance, grain yield, and yield stability of wheat. Our results showed that the two N fertilizer types had the highest lodging rate under high N application rates, and the M-CRUNU treatment showed the lowest lodging rate. Compared with NU, CRUNU improved the wheat population lodging resistance under the three N application rates, mainly related to improving wheat population characteristics and breaking the strength of the second basal internode. Correlation analysis showed that the breaking strength of the second basal internode was related to the physical characteristics, chemical components, and micro-structure of the internode. Compared with NU, CRUNU significantly increased wheat grain yield by 4.47, 14.62, and 3.12% under low, medium, and high N application rates, respectively. In addition, CRUNU showed no significant difference in grain yield under medium and high N application rates, but it presented the highest yield stability under the medium N application rate. In summary, CRUNU, combined with the medium N application rate, is an efficient agronomic management strategy for wheat production.

Abstract Background The performance of oat genotypes differs across environments due to variations in biotic and abiotic factors. Thus, evaluation of oat genotypes across diverse environments is very important to identify superior and stable genotypes for yield improvement. Methods The study aimed to assess the interaction (genotype‐by‐environment interaction; GEI) effect and determine the stability of grain yield in oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes in Ethiopia using parametric and nonparametric stability statistics. Twenty‐four oat genotypes were evaluated in nine environments using a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Results The pooled analysis of the variance of grain yield showed significant variations among genotypes, environments, and their interaction effects. Significant GEI revealed the rank order change of genotypes across environments. The environment main effect captured 44.62% of the total grain yield variance, while genotype and GEI effects explained 28.84% and 26.54% of the total grain yield variance, respectively. The grain yield stability was assessed based on 12 parametric and two nonparametric stability statistics. The results indicated that genotypes with superior grain yield‐ showed stable performance on the basis of the stability parameters of the genotypic superiority index (Pi), the Perkins and Jinks adjusted linear regression coefficient (Bi), and the yield stability index (YSI), indicating that selection using these stability parameters would be efficient for grain yield enhancement in oat genotypes. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients also showed that the stability parameters of Pi, Bi, and YSI had a significant positive association with grain yield. However, grain yield had an inverse correlation with the stability parameters of standard deviation, deviation from regression ( S d i 2 ), the Hernandez desirability index (Dji), Wricke ecovalence (Wi), the Shukla stability variance (σi2), the AMMI stability value (ASV), and environmental variance ( S ( 2 ) i ), indicating that oat genotype selection using these stability parameters would not be efficient for yield enhancement because these stability parameters favor low‐yielding genotypes more, compared to high‐yielding ones. Conclusions Therefore, G5, G8, G11, G12, G14, G16, G17, G19, and G22 genotypes were adaptable in all nine environments based on stability parameters of Pi, Bi, and YSI, and selection of these superior genotypes would improve grain yield in oat genotypes. However, the validity of this result should be confirmed by repeating the experiment in the same environments over two or more years.

RD6, the most popular glutinous rice in Thailand, is high in quality but susceptible to blast and bacterial blight disease. It was thus improved for disease resistance through marker-assisted backcross selection (MAS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of improved near isogenic lines. Eight RD6 rice near isogenic lines (NILs) derived from MAS were selected for evaluation with RD6, a standard susceptible check variety, as well as recurrent parent for a total of nine genotypes. The experiment was conducted during the wet season under six environments at three locations, Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, and Roi Et, which was repeated at two years from 2019 to 2020. Nine genotypes, including eight RD6 rice near isogenic lines (NILs) selected from two in-tandem breeding programs and the standard check variety RD6, were evaluated to select the high-performance new improved lines. The first group, including four NILs G1–G4, was gene pyramiding of blast and BB resistance genes, and the second group, including another four NILs G5–G8, was gene pyramiding of blast resistance and salt tolerance genes. Field disease screening was observed for all environments. Two disease occurrences, blast (leaf blast) and bacterial blight, were found during the rainy season of all environments. The NILs containing blast resistance genes were excellent in gene expression. On the other hand, the improved lines containing the xa5 gene were not highly resistant under the severe stress of bacterial blight (Nong Khai 2020). Notwithstanding, G2 was greater among the NILs for yield maintenance than the other genotypes. The agronomic traits of most NILs were the same as RD6. Interestingly, the traits of G2 were different in plant type from RD6, specifically photosensitivity and plant height. Promising rice RD6 NILs with high yield stability, good agronomic traits, and disease resistance were identified in the genotypes G1, G2, and G7. The high yield stability G1 and G7 are recommended for widespread use in rain-fed areas. The G2 is specifically recommended for use in the bacterial blight (BB) disease prone areas.

Studying the effects of maize and soybean intercropping for improving the maize yield and sustaining stability of the maize yield under different phosphate (P) application rates in red soil is crucial for promoting maize productivity, improving soil fertility and optimizing P nutrient management in southwest China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dynamic changes in maize yield, yield stability and soil fertility under monoculture and intercropping maize with different P application rates. A six-year field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2022 to investigate the effects of maize intercropping with soybean on the yield stability and sustainability of maize according to the changes in the maize yield, biomass, partial land equivalent ratio of yield (pLERY), actual yield loss index (AYL), contribution rate of soil capacity and fertilizer (SCR, SFCR) over time, as well as the differences in the coefficient of variation (CV) and sustainable yield index (SYI) at four P application rates (0 kg P2O5 ha−1, P0; 60 kg P2O5 ha−1, P1; 90 kg P2O5 ha−1, P2; and 120 kg P2O5 ha−1, P3) based on the two-factor randomized block design. The linear-platform model was utilized to simulate the relationship between the grain yield, the SYI and the amount of P fertilizer under different P application rates. The maize yield in intercropping was significantly superior to the maize yield in monoculture throughout the entire six-year experiment. For all planting years, the yield and biomass of the intercropping were higher than those of the matched monoculture average by 56.0% and 56.1%, respectively. Intercropping had an advantage of pLERY and AYL for maize. Otherwise, intercropping reduced the CV by 30.8% and 39.1% and increased the SYI by 39.4% and 23.0% in P0 and P3 compared with the matched monoculture, respectively. For all planting years, the average SFCR in intercropping treatment was higher than that in monoculture treatment. The linear-plateau model fitted showed that intercropping increased the yield and SYI by 19.8% and 40.7% on the platform and reduced the P application rate by 37.8% and 11.9% at the inflection point, respectively. These results demonstrate that maize and soybean intercropping could achieve a higher yield, a higher yield stability and an SYI with a lower P input than monoculture. Maize and soybean intercropping could be a sustainable practice for promoting the maize productivity and the yield sustainability in the red soil of southwest China.

This study aimed to evaluate the genotype by environment interaction for agro-morphological traits and fodder nutritive values of oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes under diverse environmental conditions and to identify high fodder yielding and consistently performing genotypes in Ethiopia. Oat genotypes usually demonstrate inconsistent performance in different environments due to variations in growing environments and the existence of significant genotype by environment interaction complicates the selection process. Therefore, the genotype by environment interaction study was executed using the additive main effects and multiplicative interactions model to select superior and stable genotypes. The effects of genotype by environment interaction on fodder yield stability in twenty-four oat genotypes were investigated in nine environments using a randomized complete block design. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis of variance for fodder yield showed significant variation for genotype, environment, and genotype by environment interaction effects and the highest contributor for the total variation was the environment (67.45 %) main effect followed by genotype by environment interaction (22.73 %) and the genotype (9.82 %). The first (44.11 %) and the second (26.79 %) interaction principal component axes were significant and cumulatively accounted for 70.91 % of the total interaction variance. Based on the first two additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analyses, E6, E4, and E2 were located far from the biplot origin and had a high contribution to the total variation of genotype by environment interaction. The fodder yield of the genotypes G6, G10, G23, G7, G9, G18, G13, G1, G24, G15, G2, G3, G19, G4, and G11 were above the grand mean. The fodder yield stability result obtained from the second additive main effects and multiplicative interaction is usually more accurate compared to the first additive main effects and multiplicative interaction. Consequently, genotypes which had mean fodder yield above the grand mean and relatively stable performance were observed for G23, G6, G10, G7, G11, G1, G9, G15, G2, G3, G4, and G19. However, G2, G3, G4, G11, and G19 have released varieties while the remaining genotypes have not been yet released. Therefore, G6, G10, G23, G7, and G9 were selected for verification and cultivation of these selected genotypes would contribute more for oat fodder yield improvement programs in Ethiopia.

Introduction: Breeding barley cultivars adapted to drought requires in-depth knowledge on physiological drought responses. Methods: We used a high-throughput functional phenotyping platform to examine the response of four high-yielding European spring barley cultivars to a standardized drought treatment imposed around flowering. Results: Cv. Chanell showed a non-conserving water-use behavior with high transpiration and maximum productivity under well-watered conditions but rapid transpiration decrease under drought. The poor recovery upon reirrigation translated to large yield losses. Cv. Baronesse showed the most water-conserving behavior, with the lowest pre-drought transpiration and the most gradual transpiration reduction under drought. Its good recovery (resilience) prevented large yield losses. Cv. Formula was less conserving than cv. Baronesse and produced low yet stable yields. Cv. RGT's dynamic water use with high transpiration under ample water supply and moderate transpiration decrease under drought combined with high resilience secured the highest and most stable yields. Discussion: Such a dynamic water-use behavior combined with higher drought resilience and favorable root traits could potentially create an ideotype for intermediate drought. Prospective studies will examine these results in field experiments and will use the newly gained understanding on water use in barley to improve process descriptions in crop simulation models to support crop model-aided ideotype design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Breeding barley cultivars adapted to drought requires in-depth knowledge on physiological drought responses. Methods: We used a high-throughput functional phenotyping platform to examine the response of four high-yielding European spring barley cultivars to a standardized drought treatment imposed around flowering. Results: Cv. Chanell showed a non-conserving water-use behavior with high transpiration and maximum productivity under well-watered conditions but rapid transpiration decrease under drought. The poor recovery upon reirrigation translated to large yield losses. Cv. Baronesse showed the most water-conserving behavior, with the lowest pre-drought transpiration and the most gradual transpiration reduction under drought. Its good recovery (resilience) prevented large yield losses. Cv. Formula was less conserving than cv. Baronesse and produced low yet stable yields. Cv. RGT's dynamic water use with high transpiration under ample water supply and moderate transpiration decrease under drought combined with high resilience secured the highest and most stable yields. Discussion: Such a dynamic water-use behavior combined with higher drought resilience and favorable root traits could potentially create an ideotype for intermediate drought. Prospective studies will examine these results in field experiments and will use the newly gained understanding on water use in barley to improve process descriptions in crop simulation models to support crop model--aided ideotype design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legume inclusion into cropping systems has been proposed to maintain high crop yields while offering multiple environmental benefits. However, the effect of legumes as pre-crop on subsequent wheat yield and soil has not been well explored. Thus, a 7-year field experiment was used to determine the interactive effects of mineral fertilization and legumes (peanut, mung bean, soybean, adzuki bean) inclusion on wheat productivity and soil quality. Our results showed that legume inclusion led to a higher wheat yield advantage (52% on average) than maize–wheat rotation under no fertilization but the advantage decreased to 26% with fertilization. All legume–wheat rotation systems supported stable wheat production, where a stronger effect was observed after peanut than after maize. Meanwhile, the wheat yield under legume–wheat systems was more resistant (i.e., less variability in the yield after ceasing fertilization) and more resilient (i.e., recovering more quickly after fertilizer re-application) relative to maize-wheat. Furthermore, soil ecosystem multifunctionality increased by 0.8 times in the topsoil while maintaining soil organic carbon stocks, even with low C and N inputs under legume–wheat. Interestingly, we also observed a positive correlation between wheat yield and soil ecosystem multifunctionality. In conclusion, legume inclusion as a sustainable practice can optimize crop yields by enhancing soil multifunctionality while maintaining soil organic carbon stocks, particularly for integration into low-yielding agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anther culture is a widely utilized technique in rice breeding because of its simplicity and effectiveness in rapidly obtaining pure lines in the form of doubled haploid plants. The selection of doubled haploid (DH) rice lines derived from anther culture in advanced yield trials is an important step for obtaining superior DH lines. We aimed to determine agronomic performance, including yield and yield stability in order to select lowland DH rice lines that are high yield and have good agronomic performance based on the selection index method. The research was conducted in Indonesia at three locations, i.e., Bogor (West Java), Indramayu (West Java) and Malang (East Java) from July to December 2022. The genotypes tested were 29 DH lines and three check varieties (Inpari-42 Agritan GSR, Inpari-18 Agritan and Bioni63 Ciherang Agritan) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with genotypes as a single factor and three replications. High heritability values are found in all agronomic characters, except the percentage of filled grain/panicle, the percentage of empty grain/panicle and productivity. The yield stability based on the Kang method showed that 15 lines were stable and had high productivity. Phenotypic correlation analysis showed that the number of productive tillers, days to flowering, days to harvesting, number of filled grains/panicle and percentage of filled grains all had positive values and significantly correlated with productivity. Phenotypic path analysis showed that the character of days to harvesting, number of filled grains/panicle, number of productive tillers and percentage of filled grains/panicle directly affected the productivity. Based on the weighted selection index, 12 DH lines were selected due to having a positive and higher index (8.54 to 0.28) than the Bioni63 Agritan and Inpari 18 check varieties. Among those lines, 9 DH lines were also stable based on the Kang Method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The performance of oat genotypes differs across environments due to variations in biotic and abiotic factors. Thus, evaluation of oat genotypes across diverse environments is very important to identify superior and stable genotypes for yield improvement. Methods: The study aimed to assess the interaction (genotype‐by‐environment interaction; GEI) effect and determine the stability of grain yield in oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes in Ethiopia using parametric and nonparametric stability statistics. Twenty‐four oat genotypes were evaluated in nine environments using a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Results: The pooled analysis of the variance of grain yield showed significant variations among genotypes, environments, and their interaction effects. Significant GEI revealed the rank order change of genotypes across environments. The environment main effect captured 44.62% of the total grain yield variance, while genotype and GEI effects explained 28.84% and 26.54% of the total grain yield variance, respectively. The grain yield stability was assessed based on 12 parametric and two nonparametric stability statistics. The results indicated that genotypes with superior grain yield‐ showed stable performance on the basis of the stability parameters of the genotypic superiority index (Pi), the Perkins and Jinks adjusted linear regression coefficient (Bi), and the yield stability index (YSI), indicating that selection using these stability parameters would be efficient for grain yield enhancement in oat genotypes. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients also showed that the stability parameters of Pi, Bi, and YSI had a significant positive association with grain yield. However, grain yield had an inverse correlation with the stability parameters of standard deviation, deviation from regression (Sdi2), the Hernandez desirability index (Dji), Wricke ecovalence (Wi), the Shukla stability variance (σi2), the AMMI stability value (ASV), and environmental variance (S(2)i), indicating that oat genotype selection using these stability parameters would not be efficient for yield enhancement because these stability parameters favor low‐yielding genotypes more, compared to high‐yielding ones. Conclusions: Therefore, G5, G8, G11, G12, G14, G16, G17, G19, and G22 genotypes were adaptable in all nine environments based on stability parameters of Pi, Bi, and YSI, and selection of these superior genotypes would improve grain yield in oat genotypes. However, the validity of this result should be confirmed by repeating the experiment in the same environments over two or more years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought-induced stress poses a significant challenge to wheat throughout its growth, underscoring the importance of identifying drought-stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for enhancing grain yield. Here, we evaluated 18 yield-related agronomic and physiological traits, along with their drought tolerance indices, in a recombinant inbred line population derived from the XC7 × XC21 cross. These evaluations were conducted under both non-stress and drought-stress conditions. Drought stress significantly reduced grain weight per spike and grain yield per plot. Genotyping the recombinant inbred line population using the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphism array resulted in the identification of 131 QTLs associated with the 18 traits. Drought stress also exerted negative impacts on grain formation and filling, directly leading to reductions in grain weight per spike and grain yield per plot. Among the identified QTLs, 43 were specifically associated with drought tolerance across the 18 traits, with 6 showing direct linkages to drought tolerance in wheat. These results provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms governing wheat growth and development, as well as the traits contributing to the drought tolerance index. Moreover, they serve as a theoretical foundation for the development of new wheat cultivars having exceptional drought tolerance and high yield potentials under both drought-prone and drought-free conditions.

Frequent occurrence of drought, heat, low soil fertility and Striga infestation are the main stress factors reducing maize yield in the Sahel. Adoption of stable multiple stress tolerant maize cultivars in the region is crucial for achieving food security. However, selection of a stable high yielding cultivar is complicated by genotype × environment interaction (GEI) due to differential responses to growing conditions. Eleven extra-early maturing multiple-stress tolerant maize hybrids and two checks arranged in a randomized complete block design was evaluated across nine locations for two years in Mali and Niger. The objectives of this study were to identify (i) stable and high-yielding maize hybrids, and (ii) suitable test locations for selecting promising extra-early maize hybrids. GGE biplot was used for graphical analysis. Significant genotype, location and GEI effects were detected for grain yield and number of ears per plant. EEWQH-13 produced the highest grain yield (3860 kg ha−1) while EEYQH-1 had the poorest yield (2663 kg ha−1) with trial mean of 3395 kg ha−1 for all hybrids. GGE biplot explained 69.6 % of the total variation in grain yield among the hybrids. The polygon view identified EEWQH-13 as the best hybrid across six of the nine test locations. EEPVAH-58 was identified as the most stable high yielding hybrid across the nine test locations followed by EEWQH-16 and EEWQH-13. The nine locations were clustered under two mega-environments (ME1, ME2). Among the nine test locations, Tara and Aderaoua clustered in ME1 were the most suitable ones for selecting promising extra-early maize hybrids for wider adaptation. The three hybrids, EEPVAH-58, EEWQH-16, and EEWQH-13, identified in this study could be recommended for on-farm evaluation to confirm the consistency of their yield performance for possible release and commercialization in Mali and Niger.

Climate warming has increased the frequency of droughts and excessive precipitation, adversely affecting crop growth, particularly under traditional intensive tillage. No-till improves crop tolerance to extreme events by reducing soil evaporation and improving soil structural stability to enhance soil water storage capacity and crop resistance, but long-term mono-no-till cakes the soil, reducing crop yield. Combining intensive tillage with no-till can compensate for some deficiencies arising from conventional tillage or single no-till. A three-year field experiment was conducted in wet (2020) and normal (2019 and 2021, where a drought event occurred in 2021) years to study the effect of tillage practices on summer maize productivity under different precipitation types. Treatments included conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), ridge cultivation with no-tillage (RNT), and conventional tillage of winter wheat combined with no-tillage of summer maize (NC). Compared with NT, NC and RNT significantly reduced soil bulk density and increased soil porosity in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Compared with CT, NC and RNT significantly improved aggregate stability, NC increased available soil water storage by 19.7% in the dry season (P

In Cambodia, rice is predominantly produced in areas with rainfed lowland conditions where photoperiod-sensitive varieties are cultivated. A number of varieties have been released for rainfed lowland areas, and the rice grain yield has reportedly increased by approximately 12% over the past ten years. Moreover, great fluctuations in yield performance have been observed across different soil types of the rainfed ecosystems of Cambodia. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the grain yield and stability among ten popular varieties that were released for rainfed lowland ecosystems across the four different soil types in Cambodia in two years. The grain yield varied 566 g m−2 as the highest in clay soil and about 220 g m−2 as the lowest in sandy soil. A combined ANOVA revealed significant differences for the main effect of genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) for all yield-related traits and grain yield per square meter. The principal component test results showed that the heterogeneity of grain yield was mainly attributable to the effect of environment, followed by the effect of genotype. In fertile conditions, a higher percentage of filled grains was supported by higher leaf N until the late stage with a wider flag leaf. In conditions of moderate fertility, larger numbers of panicles were supported by a higher percentage of productive culms with higher leaf N until the late stage. In conditions of poor fertility, a higher percentage of filled grains was supported by higher leaf N until the late stage, which is considered to be important for higher grain yield. The variety Phka Rumduol showed these preferable traits and produced higher yields in fertile to poor natural soil fertility conditions with moderate variation. This variety is considered to be more desirable and ideal due to its stability and higher grain yield. The other varieties, namely, Phka Mealdei, Phka Rumdeng, and CAR4, were identified as above-average yielders. Therefore, those varieties potentially may be recommended for cultivation in rainfed lowland rice ecosystems in Cambodia due to their high yields. CAR4 showed moderate variation at the same level as Phka Rumduol. From the point of stability, Phka Rumduol and CAR4 can be expected to excel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the yield stability in crop production is very important. Foliar fertilizers can be suitable for this purpose. In our study the effects of different foliar fertilizers were investigated for maize production. The experiment was set up in three replications, using random block design on the area of Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Szeged. The soil deeply salt meadow chernozem. The examined maize hybrid was DKC 4555. We applied three foliar fertilizers individually and combined with each other. 2021 was unfavourable year for maize. The amount of precipitation was lower by 113.58 mm than the average in the vegetative period of maize. We processed the obtained data by single factor variant analysis. The yield of the untreated control plot was 2.44 t ha-1. By using of foliar fertilizer treatments, we got higher yields (2.48-3.14 t ha-1). Although the foliar fertilizer treatments resulted in maximum 29% higher yield in this experiment, but statistically it was not significant. Based on our results we can establish, that using foliar fertilizers can improve the yield stability of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the grain yield of inbred late rice under the double rice cropping system in South China. A three years field experiment from 2015 to 2017 was conducted by using the inbred late rice variety grown under the double rice cropping system in South China. The grain yield and yield components, growth period, and some agronomic traits were recorded. Results indicated that the grain yield and yield components, growth period, and some agronomic traits were not changed in different planting years, except for the plant height. The mean grain yield was 6.36 t ha-1, 6.30 t ha-1, and 6.27 t ha-1 in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. Different experiment locations recorded different yields due to the environmental difference which resulted in a change in the growth parameters. The stability of grain yield for the inbred late rice under the double rice cropping system in South China is highly related to the daily yield production (r = 0.9712, p < 0.05) grain number per panicle (r = 0.3715, p < 0.05), filled grain percentage (r = 0.4016, p < 0.05), and panicle length (r = 0.3446, p < 0.05). The finding of this study suggested that the grain number per panicle and filled grain percentage is critically important for the purpose of graining higher grain yield of inbred late rice under the double rice cropping system in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)