Abstract
Abstract This study quantifies the effect of breeding and water supply on maize ( Zea mays L.) yields, yield components, grain quality, and water use efficiency in Bayer legacy maize hybrids. Thirty‐eight hybrids released from 1980 to 2020 were grown under three irrigation levels (non‐irrigated, partially, and fully irrigated) in a 3‐year experiment in Nebraska. Results indicate a significant grain yield increase across all irrigation treatments, with an average genetic gain of 111 kg/ha/year. New hybrids without irrigation produced as much yield as old hybrids with irrigation. Kernel number and weight increased with the year of hybrid release, with the kernel number being the primary driver of yield increase. This coincided with a reduced anthesis‐silking interval (delta of 3 days between old and new hybrids). Grain protein concentration decreased by 1% from 1980 to 2020 following a dilution curve. Starch concentration increased by the same amount (∼1%), while oil concentration remained unchanged. Water use efficiency, defined as grain yield per water supply unit (growing season rain and irrigation), increased by 28% in the 40‐year period. We concluded that maize breeding for high yields has indirectly affected several plant traits, including water use efficiency improvement, which is very encouraging for the future of crop production in the face of increased weather variability and climate change. Furthermore, we concluded that yield increase is the result of increasing both yield potential and drought stress tolerance. Present results can assist decision‐making regarding water management of modern hybrids and enhance our crop physiology knowledge.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Grain yield increased across irrigation treatments by an average genetic gain of 111 kg/ha/year.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Results indicate a significant grain yield increase across all irrigation treatments, with an average genetic gain of 111 kg/ha/year.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
New unirrigated hybrids yielded as much as old irrigated hybrids.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“New hybrids without irrigation produced as much yield as old hybrids with irrigation.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Kernel number increased with hybrid release year.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Kernel number and weight increased with the year of hybrid release”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Kernel weight increased with hybrid release year.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Kernel number and weight increased with the year of hybrid release”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Kernel number was the primary driver of yield increase.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“with the kernel number being the primary driver of yield increase.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Anthesis to silking interval was shorter by three days in new versus old hybrids.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This coincided with a reduced anthesis‐silking interval (delta of 3 days between old and new hybrids).”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain protein concentration declined by 1% from 1980 to 2020.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Grain protein concentration decreased by 1% from 1980 to 2020 following a dilution curve.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Starch concentration increased by about 1%.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Starch concentration increased by the same amount (∼1%), while oil concentration remained unchanged.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Oil concentration remained unchanged.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“oil concentration remained unchanged.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Water use efficiency increased by 28% over 40 years.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Water use efficiency, defined as grain yield per water supply unit (growing season rain and irrigation), increased by 28% in the 40‐year period.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors attribute yield increase to both increased potential and drought tolerance.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“yield increase is the result of increasing both yield potential and drought stress tolerance.”
t0“maize”