Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 1
Written by Emil VASILEV, Nataliya PETROVSKA, Viliana VASILEVA
Maize is the species with highest world production and the most widely planted agricultural crop. Breeders and the agricultural community around the world will have to expand the capacity of current breeding programs to increase yield potentials in the conditions of climate changes. In the paper the effect of key factors such warmer temperatures, changes in rainfall and higher concentrations of CO2 on the productivity of maize were reviewed based on the literature. The most sensitive stages to drought were shown. Breeding tools to mitigate unfavorable effect of climate changes on grain yield of maize were reviewed. Breeding program achievements of the Maize Research Institute Knezha, Bulgaria was shown. New hybrids Kneja 461 and Kneja 561 due to their drought tolerance were found as more productive comparing to the standards Kneja 435 and Kneja 509 in new conditions. Future prospects of the breeding of maize were shown as development of maize varieties resistant to high temperatures; selection and improvement of maize varieties capable of maintaining growth and productivity under changed environment, ect.
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