Maize breeding - challenges and needs

Le résumé fourni par la source

Maize is generally well-suited to the climate of South-eastern Europe, but rising temperatures and lack of precipitation negatively affect yields. Breeding of new, climate resilient hybrids, came out as a main adaptation strategy. However, developing of materials capable to cope with a climate change is a complex task. While grain yield and moisture content remain dominant traits, there's a growing emphasis on heat and drought tolerance. Due to the increasing frequency and intensity of storms resulting from climate change, enhancing crop tolerance to stalk and root lodging is a crucial priority. An old idea, breeding for short stature maize, could be an interesting solution. Short-stature maize can offer increased tolerance to lodging, allowing for higher planting densities and potentially improved yields. These changes could lead to reduced risks associated with extreme weather, and more sustainable farming practices. Climate change is not just about the change of meteorological events. It cause change in biotic factors too (diseases, pests, weeds), making breeding for successful hybrids quite uncertain. A special attention should be paid in breeding for tolerance to mycotoxigenic species, such are Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus flavus. Rising temperatures are predicted to lead to the emergence of more aggressive strains and to cause a shift in the prevalence of fungal species. In the last decade, there is a growing interest in developing maize hybrids with enhanced nutritional value and health benefits. A special attention is paid to pigmented maize, rich in anthocyanins, water-soluble pigments known for their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, even anti-carcinogenic properties. Combining appropriate maize genetic diversity with modern breeding techniques is crucial for developing resilient and high-yielding hybrids, with elevated content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. This approach is especially important in the face of climate change and growing food demands.

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