Improving cold tolerance of maize
Background and Goals
As a second subproject of the project "BayKlimaFit - strategies for adapting crops to climate change", the subproject deals with the question how to improve cold tolerance of maize.
Improving the maize's cold tolerance allows for rapid youth development at the beginning of the growing season and earlier sowing dates. A faster land cover contributes significantly to the reduction of weather-related soil erosion and to reduce nutrient leaching.
The aim of the project was to find genetic factors that are involved in the expression of cold tolerance in European maize landraces. For three selected landraces, novel genetic lines were created for the assessment of cold tolerance and youth development in field trials as well as for molecular analyzes. Genomic regions have been identified in the landrace-derived lines involved in the expression of cold tolerance and youth development. Based on the results obtained, breeding strategies have been proposed. The strategies use the natural biodiversity of landraces to bring genetic factors related to the expression of cold tolerance into breeding material. The project contributed to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance and adaptation of maize to climate change while conserving scarce resources such as nutrients, water and soil.
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Germany
Region of implementation (all German federal states)
- Bavaria
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Parameter (climate signals)
- Altered rainfall patterns
- Higher average temperatures
- Extreme precipitation (incl. hail, snow)
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
Induced by the climate change an unstable temperature distribution and a regional increase in rain during the winter season as well as a more frequent number of heavy rain events are expected in Bavaria.
Next to wheat maize is one of the most important crop plants in Bavaria. This is caused by its high biomass yield, its low susceptibility for diseases and the broad variety for its agricultural usage. Maize is sometimes criticized, due to late sowing and slow early growth, there is a higher risk for soil erosion, leaching of nutrients and competition with weeds.
Step 2b: Identify and assess risks - Vulnerability, risks and chances
Approach and results
Improving the cold tolerance of maize through plant breeding is of increasing importance. If plant breeding is successful in developing maize suitable for earlier sowing dates and with better early vigor, the problems outlined above could be avoided. Furthermore, such plants could use a longer vegetation period for biomass production in a more efficient way and would avoid the consequences of summer droughts due to an earlier flowering time.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
The project led to important findings for the efficient use of genetic resources and the development of new climate-adapted varieties.
With the aid of the genetic information of a typical European maize inbred line, which has been decrypted in the project, bio informatics analyses will be used to identify specific genetic factors that are involved in the expression of cold tolerance. So far unused beneficial genetic characteristics of maize landrace can be stored by innovative breeding methods in elite material to expand the genetic diversity in the breeding material. Thus, the development of further stress-tolerant, climate-adapted varieties can be secured in the long term.
Participants
Funding / Financing
Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection
Project management
Technical University of Munich
