Advances in Agriculture and Food Research: High Cumulative Temperature Maize Varieties Show Superior Production Potential

Strategic Insights -

New research by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has found that high cumulative temperature maize varieties exhibit superior production potential in rainfed North China Plain areas. The study, which spanned two years, found that these varieties achieved significantly higher yields, biomass, and photosynthetic rates compared to low cumulative temperature requirement varieties. The findings provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for selecting high-yielding maize cultivars suitable for rainfed dryland areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • High cumulative temperature maize varieties (HCTR) achieved yields 19.8% to 25.7% higher than low cumulative temperature requirement varieties (LCTR), even with suboptimal cumulative temperatures.
  • HCTR varieties had superior hundred-grain weight (10.7%) and grain number per cob (12.5%).
  • Aboveground biomass followed a logarithmic growth curve, with HCTR varieties outperforming LCTR throughout, especially at blister (R2, 29.0% - 31.8%) and milk stages (R3, 9.0% - 12.6%).
  • HCTR varieties maintained high yields under insufficient cumulative temperature due to advanced peak photosynthetic rates and optimized biomass allocation.
  • The research suggests that HCTR maize varieties are well-suited for late sowing in rainfed dryland areas of the North China Plain.

Statistics:

  • 19.8% - 25.7% increase in yields for HCTR varieties compared to LCTR varieties.
  • 10.7% and 12.5% increase in hundred-grain weight and grain number per cob, respectively, for HCTR varieties.
  • 29.0% - 31.8% and 9.0% - 12.6% increase in aboveground biomass for HCTR varieties at blister (R2) and milk stages (R3), respectively.

Sources:

  • Enhanced early growth rates in high cumulative temperature requirement maize (Zea mays L.) varieties drive superior production potential in rainfed North China Plain. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2025, 22(): 102044.
  • A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102044.
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Hebei Laboratory of Agricultural Water-Saving, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology.
  • Elsevier, the publisher of Journal of Agriculture and Food Research.