MAIZE UNDER THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

Research into plant breeding always focused on increasing productivity potential in new developed plant varieties because this criterion ensures the economic efficiency of a crop and finally of the agricultural farm. Lately, however, due to the challenges of climate change, the stability of crop production is strongly affected because of the global warming. One of the most important crops for humankind is maize which becomes nowadays the most productive grain crop worldwide. Maintaining a high production of maize in the conditions of climate change remains a priority for researchers. In order to be able to make the most relevant decisions over a long period of time regarding the future of crop plants due to their importance for food security in the context of climate change, more and more researchers are using different modelling systems in crop science. A study based on the ‘Climex’ model indicates that the negative effects of global warming will limit maize cultivation in the countries between tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, but also will expand some areas from USA, Mexico, Brazil, China, Africa and Latin America, due to the cold stress reduction. Following the simulations performed until this moment, some measures that will be able to ensure large corn production in the near future despite climate change are breeding cultivars that start filling the grain as fast as possible, creating drought tolerant hybrids, improving irrigation technologies and not least, reconsider favourable areas for maize cultivation