Soil evaporation constitutes a major pathway of water loss in agriculture. Understanding its dynamics in the face of drying and soil cover is fundamental to improve both simulation models and the sustainability of production systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate soil evaporation as a function of drying and percentage of soil cover. Three experiments were carried out in three different

Investigating the combined effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water-deficit on weed plants is crucial to gaining a thorough understanding of plant performance and modifying agricultural processes under changing climate conditions. This study examined the effect of elevated CO2 concentration and water-deficit conditions on leaf gas exchange, water use efficiency, carboxylation efficiency and

The stimulation effect of elevated [CO2] (e[CO2]) on plant growth is modulated by nitrogen (N) availability, yet the mechanisms of this modulation under patchy N supply remain largely elusive. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which patchy nutrient supply in the root-zone influence on N uptake, partitioning and use efficiency of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown under e[CO2]

Water scarcity is known to be a strong limiting factor affecting maize grown and yield in cold semi-arid regions. Numerous studies have shown that rehydration improves maize growth. Our study aimed to explore the effects of rehydration treatments on maize growth and yield under water and nitrogen stress during different growth stages. We selected the drought-tolerant maize variety Nendan 19 (ND19)

Plantago ovata Forssk. is an emerging crop yielding psyllium husk, a material comprised of hydrophilic polysaccharides that form mucilage upon wetting. Psyllium husk has important industrial uses including as a dietary fibre supplement and a textural alternative in gluten-free bread production. Industrial applications require high-quality and purity psyllium husk, but consistent supply of uniform quality

Salinity is one of the most decisive environmental factors limiting crop productivity, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth depression of spring maize (Zea mays L.) due to salinity stress caused by different drip irrigation regimes in an arid saline area. A two-year field experiment was conducted in the Hetao Irrigation District, northwest

The adaptation of alfalfa to moisture-favourable and drought-prone environments and its underlying mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated despite its crucial importance to maximize the crop breeding progress. The main aim of this study was to support breeding strategies by exploring the relationship of leaf morphophysiological traits assessed in three growth chamber experiments with the adaptive

In arid and semi-arid regions, soil salinity and sodicity are the most common constraints to agriculture production, in particular in North Africa. The effect of gypsum application has been widely studied in saline-sodic soils. However, the gypsum amendment's influence on the performance, productivity and mineral absorption of salt-sensitive and tolerant wheat cultivars in both saline-sodic and normal

Lolium perenne L. (Lp) is the main pasture species in New Zealand, but climate change increases the likelihood of drought during summer and consequently lowers its growth rates. Bromus valdivianus Phil. (Bv) tolerates better the summer soil water restriction, but its competitiveness in a diverse pasture relates to the defoliation management and soil moisture levels. The performance of both species

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is mostly grown in Asia, which accounts for 86% of global production. However, its production is under threat by salinity. Little is known about genotypic responses to salinity in sweet potato. Phenotypic responses or physiological processes linked to salt tolerance that could be developed into a reliable screening tool to assist breeding have not yet been developed

The growth and development of maize is affected in a crucial way by the salinity of the soil it grows in. Therefore, if we want to improve the salt tolerance of maize, it is of paramount importance to understand how it responds to salt stress. To explore how maize adapts to a saline environment, we chose one salt-tolerant maize variety, Jingnongyu 658 (JNY658), and one salt-sensitive variety, Yunyu7

Deficit irrigation (DI) is an effective way to save irrigation water while maintaining sustainable yield in irrigated crops. However, limited information is available related to canopy structure and solar radiation use under DI condition. In this study, our objective was to assess maize hybrids for leaf development, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception and water use under DI condition

Chilling is a major constraint on rice production in mountainous regions of the tropics and in the temperate rice-growing zones of the world. In this study, our goal is to quantify the impacts of chilling at the tillering phases on rice growth and grain yield. In 2017 and 2018, we conducted a factorial chilling treatment at four temperatures (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and four duration days (D2, D4, D6 and

Drought appears at flowering and boll formation for cotton frequently. However, reports on the impact of carbon dynamics in the subtending leaf on boll biomass under periodic droughts are limited. To investigate this, experiments were carried out with two cultivars (drought-tolerant: Dexiamian 1; drought-sensitive: Yuzaomian 9110), three water levels [soil relative water content (SRWC): control (75 ± 5)%

Brazil is the world's largest producer of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Drought stress harms the morphological and agronomic traits of beans. This study evaluates the reaction to water deficit in five genotypes of black beans. The experiment was conducted in the IDR-IAPAR-EMATER in Londrina-PR, Brazil. A split-plot design was used, with three replications. The genotypes were included in the

Most maize production across the globe is rain-fed, and production is set to be negatively impacted as duration and occurrence of droughts increases due to climate change. Development of water-deficit tolerant maize germplasm has been a major focus for most breeding programmes. Here, we sought to assess the genetic gain for grain yield in two maize populations developed for drought tolerance at CIMMYT

High temperature during flowering increasingly reduces maize yield with warming climate. Heat tolerance of maize is however not fully understood in the aspect of flowering characteristics and yield stability, especially in the female flowering patterns. Temperature-controlled greenhouse studies were conducted to test heat tolerances of four inbred lines and five hybrids, including 30/20 and 40/30°C

Root morphology and anatomy are important plant traits that could potentially influence seedling vigour, resource acquisition and susceptibility to early-season stress. Therefore, the objective of the current experiment was to evaluate the effects of cultivar and growth temperature on seedling root growth and anatomical characteristics in cotton. To address this objective, experiments were conducted

In the last years globally, daily night-time low temperatures have increased more than twice compared with maximum temperatures. There is little evidence about maize growth and yield responses to high night temperature (HNT) under field conditions. In this study, we aimed to (i) evaluate the effect of HNT during post-flowering on kernel number (KN), crop growth rate expressed in chronological days

Prospects for improving the productivity of species mixtures in transitions between phases by changing row configuration at sowing were examined in two series of field experiments in rain-fed, semi-arid environments in south-eastern Australia. The first series explored how the choice of cover crop and use of alternate drill row configurations affected establishment and yields of sward components in

The intensification of global soil salinization has seriously decreased crop yield. At the same time, the rapid increase in population has raised the demand for crop yields. Reasonable use of saline-alkali land and cultivation of salt-tolerant crops through transgenic technology becomes more important. Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)], as an important energy crop, resists abiotic stress effectively

Soil salinity is one of the major constraints to crop production worldwide. The multifaceted nature of salinity tolerance traits complicates plant screening and the identification of salt-tolerant germplasm to be used for the genetic advancement of corps. Many screening criteria have been suggested to distinguish between genotypes. Most of these were applied under controlled environmental conditions

Promoting seed germination after short episodes of heat stress during the wheat grain filling stage is a serious problem that results in pre-harvest sprouting. The plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GAs), and ethylene (ETH) are well known to be involved in germination control. However, the genes associated with the metabolism and responsiveness of these hormones to heat stress during

High temperatures and increasing CO2 concentrations are a major threat to global wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production, demanding the development of heat-tolerant wheat cultivars. Plant physiological traits are potential surrogates for evaluating genetic variation for crop stress tolerance. This research evaluated 23 Australian wheat cultivars and two breeding lines for heat-tolerance by characterising

Maize production in Thailand is increasingly suffering from drought periods along the cropping season. This creates the need for rapid and accurate methods to detect crop water stress to prevent yield loss. The study was, therefore, conducted to improve the efficacy of thermal imaging for assessing maize water stress and yield prediction. The experiment was carried out under controlled and field conditions

Jatropha curcas is a common species in Brazil, potentially being an option to produce oil for bioenergetic purposes. Around the world, J. curcas has been cultivated in areas of low fertility, in the presence of salts, and with the use of brackish groundwater. Salt stress can hinder the absorption of nutrients and allow entry of ions in toxic concentrations, affecting the development and productivity

The simultaneous increase of carbon dioxide and temperature causes significant changes in rice physiology and production, but limited studies have been performed in the past to examine the interactive effect of these two key variables on lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidative properties, gas exchange parameters, and grain yield of rice. Thus, an experiment was conducted by growing two rice genotypes (IR83376-B-B-24–2

Salinity is a major environmental constraint affecting rice production in both irrigated and non-irrigated areas and threatening global food security. Development of salt-tolerant rice varieties with desirable agronomic traits is a logical approach to maintain high yield in saline areas. Here, we report development of two multi-parent advanced generation introgression line (MAGIL) rice populations

Knowledge of the physiological mechanisms in saline environment may boost sugarcane breeding programmes targeting abiotic stresses. Our hypothesis is that the physiology of Saccharum genotypes responds differently under salt stress. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the physiological performance of Saccharum complex genotypes grown under presence and absence of saline stress. The experimental

We used SUFI-2 for the first time to calibrate the phenology module of the APSIM-wheat model for 10 spring wheat cultivars cultivated in northeast Australia (south-eastern Queensland). Calibration resulted in an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 5.5 days for developmental stages from stem elongation up to flowering. Projections from 33 climate models under the representative concentration pathway

Crop avoidance and tolerance strategies are critical adaptive mechanisms of drought stress and play different roles in grain yield. However, little is known about the contribution of these two mechanisms to grain yield in old and modern wheat genotypes. Here, pot and field experiments were carried out to characterize and compare the mechanisms of drought avoidance and drought tolerance, and determine

This work focuses on the investigation of forage crops hybrid fescue and legume alfalfa response to drought at different levels of nitrogen fertilization. Plants were grown in pots filled with a mixture of field soil, perlite and fine sand with three (N0, N60 and N90 kg/ha) levels of nitrogen fertilization in a greenhouse. Drought stress was applied by withholding watering for 1 week, after which plants

Film antitranspirants (e.g. di-1-p-menthene) and metabolic antitranspirants (e.g. exogenous ABA) can be used to protect grain crops from drought, particularly during reproductive development. Here, we compared effects of di-1-p-menthene (1.0 L/ha) and exogenous ABA (100 µM) on well-watered and droughted spring wheat in two glasshouse experiments. Progressive drought was imposed in the first experiment

Agriculture accounts for 70% of the global use of available freshwater. Projections show that demand for water will increase significantly due to climate change, population growth and development of agricultural enterprises globally. There is a need to develop water-use efficient crop cultivars for sustainable agricultural production. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] is a powerhouse crop in drier

Climate change is adversely affecting wheat yields as the associated rising temperatures damage its reproductive physiology. Heat stress affects wheat at various stages of growth, but flowering and reproductive phases are the most sensitive to high temperatures as flower opening usually occurs in cooler environments. Heat stress at meiosis causes ovule and pollen sterility along with anther dehiscence

Methodologies for imposing stress and reproducible results are a bottleneck for breeding programmes, and this is due to the lack of consensus between the existing methodologies. The aim of the present study was to propose and validate a new methodology for imposing water deficit in soybean that allows the identification of water deficit-tolerant genotypes, at different harvest times and phenological

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne, phytopathogenic fungus that causes Verticillium wilt in cotton. Salt tolerance of cotton plants suffering from Verticillium wilt was significantly improved, but the mechanism is unknown. In this study, we built a symbiont named Cotton≡VD by immersing cotton plant roots into Verticillium dahliae liquid for four days. This resulted in a strong interaction between

High temperature stress during the reproductive growth stage of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can cause extensive yield losses. As the plant hormone auxin is a key regulator of reproductive development, we studied the effect of auxins on grain yield in five wheat lines exposed to moderate heat stress (34–35°C) for 6 h per day for 6 days during early flowering (booting stage to anthesis). ‘CDC Go’, a

Maturity is not only critical for vigour and other seed quality characteristics but also impacts the subsequent plant performance. If these impacts on the subsequent plant are long lasting, the potential to produce vigorous, mature seed may also be affected. This scenario lends itself to the concept of seed maturity memory (SMM) – an understanding of how seed maturity may impact subsequent generations

Recent research has shown that the native shrub, Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel, interplanted with crops dramatically increases crop yield in the Sahel. However, little is known about the crop development when grown alongside shrubs. The objectives were to determine the effect of shrub presence on crop development under varying fertilizer rates in northern Senegal. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and pearl

Rain-out shelters provide an effective tool to establish controlled water-stress environments by excluding undesired rain events and have been widely used in the selection and breeding of cool-season turfgrass for improved drought tolerance. However, the efficiency of recurrent selection using rain-out shelters has seldomly been investigated. In this study, we documented the selection process of tall

In wheat and barley, grain yield is strongly affected by waterlogging, especially during the period immediately previous to anthesis. Although waterlogging reduces grain yield mainly by reductions in grain number, mean grain weight (MGW) is also frequently reduced. The aim of this work was to determine whether increases in the source-sink ratio produces smaller reductions in MGW due to waterlogging

Drought stress restricts sugar beet growth and yield formation. For the development of adapted varieties, reasons for high water demand in certain growth periods and for genotypic differences in water use efficiency (WUE) were investigated. In 2019 and 2020, different drought stress periods were simulated in pot trials in the greenhouse with four sugar beet genotypes by reducing the water supply to

Light-dependent (250 or 500 µmol/m2/s, red/far-red: 15/1; 250 µmol/m2/s and red/far-red: 10/1) adjustment of glutathione metabolism during cold acclimation (5°C, 7 d) was compared in four wheat genotypes (14-day-old) differing in freezing tolerance. Only the shoot fresh weight of the two tolerant genotypes increased during cold, regardless of light conditions. Their electrolyte leakage was decreased

Sweetpotato is a crucial crop to guarantee food security in sub-Saharan Africa, and drought events are considered one of the most critical factors affecting sweetpotato productivity in this region. In this study, airborne imagery based on reflectance (NDVI, CIred-edge) and canopy temperature minus air temperature (dT) indices was used to characterize sweetpotato genotypes under drought treatments in

Lentil (Lens culinaris, Medik.), an accessible low-cost high-quality protein form for many people, is a salt-sensitive legume, which already at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 3 dS/m (~30 mM NaCl) has a yield loss of about 90% compared to other crops. Identifying salinity-tolerant lentil germplasm is nowadays of primary importance for ensuring the production of superfood and the sustainability of

While improved crop water-deficit tolerance is considered of primary importance, many phenotyping efforts focusing on quantifying structural root traits make assumptions about architecture representing root function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify whole plant water-use traits among disparate peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes and determine their impact on water-deficit tolerance

In the Loess Plateau region of China, winter wheat often undergoes prolonged cloudy days without rain which may affect the grain yield and quality. This study examined the impacts of shading and drought conditions during the grain-filling period of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on photosynthesis, grain yield and quality traits in a greenhouse experiment. The imposed shading and irrigation-deficit

This work assessed the responses of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) genotypes experienced to different durations of terminal drought for relative water content (RWC), SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR), stomatal conductance (SC), leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA), investigated the significant contributor of physiological traits to yield and yield reduction and diversity of physiological traits

One of the main objectives of soybean breeding programs is the search for genotypes that are both high yielding and tolerant to abiotic stresses. Brazilian Cerrado, the main grain-producing region in the country, is characterised by naturally acidic and low fertility soils that consequently have low base saturation. Therefore, identifying genotypes with good performance for favourable and low base

Implementation of water-saving irrigation practices in lowland rice results in increased availability of nitrate (NO3−) in the soil and favours germination of upland weeds. Since plant species show a specific preference for either ammonium (NH4+) or NO3− as nitrogen (N) source, changes in both soil NO3− concentration and weed flora may affect the competition between rice and weeds. Further, the transpirational

Several new bermudagrass cultivars are available and commonly used on golf course fairways. However, little is known about their cultural requirements or how these cultivars perform under lower inputs regimes. A 2-year study was conducted at University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, to assess performance of four hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon L. Pers. X Cynodon transvaalensis

Chilling stress is one of the most important factors limiting soybean yield in the temperate climate. It significantly constraints the spatial distribution and agricultural productivity of plants, thereby affecting their growth and development. In this study, to determine the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes in the chilling resistance of four soybean cultivars (Augusta, Fiskeby

Tree strips on agricultural production sites offer many economic, ecological and social advantages. However, the introduction of trees creates a transition zone between tree strips and crop land. Here, trees and crop plants compete for resources such as space, nutrients, water and light, which causes stress in the low-competitive system. On the other hand, facilitation such as additional nutrient input

Cereal–legume intercropping is promoted within semi-arid regions as an adaptation strategy to water scarcity and drought for low-input systems. Our objectives were firstly to evaluate the crop model APSIM for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.))—cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) intercropping—and secondly to investigate the hypothesis that intercropping provides complimentary yield under drought

Due to climate change, multiple heat events are expected to be an additional limiting factor that will adversely affect wheat production. The study aimed to analyze the physiological response to heat stress in four winter wheat cultivars at different physiological stages under greenhouse conditions during 2019. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll index, maximum quantum efficiency

Late-season rice, a major contributor to the production of high-quality rice in China, often experiences low temperatures during the flowering period. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of low temperature stress on grain quality and to identify related physiological factors in late-season rice. Sink and source characteristics and grain quality traits of two high-quality late-season

Lodging is an important factor that restricts the yield of rapeseed and the mechanical harvesting. To explore agricultural practise and mechanisms that can synergistically improve the rapeseed yield and lodging resistance, a conventional plant type HZ 62 was selected in 2016–2017, and HZ 62 and an erect-leaf type 1,301 were grown in 2017–2018. The planting density was set as main plots at 15 × 104

Intensity and frequency of heat waves (HW) accompanied by drought are increasing, however, still little is known about its effect on forage plants. A pot experiment was carried out in growth chambers in order to elucidate the multiple response of forage rape to combined HW and drought (HD) under current and elevated CO2 (HD + CO2). Forage rape was proved to be relatively HD-resistant plant, with no