Influence of Changing Weather on Old and New Maize Hybrids: A Case Study in Romania
Roxana Elena Călugăr,
Andrei Varga,
Carmen Daniela Vana,
Loredana Ancuța Ceclan,
Ionuț Racz,
Felicia Chețan,
Alina Șimon,
Călin Popa,
Nicolae Tritean,
Florin Russu,
Alexandru Bogdan Ghețe,
Leon Muntean
Affiliations
Roxana Elena Călugăr
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Andrei Varga
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Carmen Daniela Vana
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Loredana Ancuța Ceclan
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Ionuț Racz
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Felicia Chețan
Laboratory of Technology and Mechanization, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Alina Șimon
Laboratory of Technology and Mechanization, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Călin Popa
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Nicolae Tritean
Laboratory of Maize Breeding, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Florin Russu
Laboratory of Technology and Mechanization, Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda, 401100 Turda, Romania
Alexandru Bogdan Ghețe
Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Leon Muntean
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Maize is affected by drought and heat, abiotic stress factors that have been encountered more often in recent years in various parts of Europe. In the area of Turda, Romania, extreme temperatures and heat waves combined with an uneven distribution of precipitation have been recorded that had an unfavorable influence on the maize crop. In this study, the ASI (anthesis-to-silking interval), yield, and stability of 35 old and new maize hybrids created at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Turda were studied under drought and heat conditions. An increase in temperature was observed during vegetative growth and grain filling, and rainfall was deficient during and after flowering. These conditions had a negative influence on ASI, grain filling, and, indirectly, yield, which varied significantly during the seven experimental years. The five newest hybrids (Turda335, Turda2020, Turda380, Sur18/399, and HST148) stood out, with average yields of over 8400 kg ha−1 in unfavorable years and over 15–16,000 kg ha−1 under favorable conditions. They generally outperformed the mean by 29–33%. In contrast, the old hybrids achieved yields up to 22% lower than the experimental mean. Yield was 43.1% lower in 2022 and 31.8% lower in 2023 compared to the best year (2021).
