Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 167-181 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 174 6.3 Adaptation strategies to climate change for maize Developing and implementing adaptation strategies is crucial to protecting maize yields in the face of climate variability. As shown in the figure, one effective approach is to use biotechnological tools to breed maize varieties that are both drought-and heat-tolerant, combining resilience traits to withstand multiple environmental stressors. Integrating drought and heat tolerance into maize varieties can nearly double yield improvements compared to varieties with only one tolerance trait (Tesfaye et al., 2017). The figure highlights advanced biotechnological methods such as transgenic research, QTL mapping, transcriptome analysis, and genome editing, which enable precise identification and modification of genes associated with drought and heat resilience (Wei et al., 2023). In addition to genetic improvements, other adaptive practices like adjusting planting schedules and implementing soil moisture conservation techniques are effective ways to optimize resource use. The climate-adaptive planting strategies illustrated in the figure are beneficial for small-scale farmers; for instance, farmers in Kenya have successfully adapted to climate variability by changing maize varieties and modifying planting dates, resulting in increased resilience to drought and temperature fluctuations (Busolo et al., 2023). These methods help optimize resource utilization and improve crop adaptability to climate change. Providing timely climate information and early-warning systems further enhances farmers’ ability to make informed decisions and mitigate the risks associated with extreme weather events. Access to accurate climate data allows farmers to make timely adjustments to farming practices, which is especially valuable in managing the impacts of unpredictable weather patterns. As illustrated in the figure, these diversified strategies are essential to strengthening the resilience and stability of maize production, particularly under the growing pressures of climate change (Figure 3) (Wei et al., 2023). Figure 3 Maize breeding strategies to respond to climate change. (Adopted from Wei et al., 2023) Image caption: This figure provides an overview of maize breeding strategies and biotechnological tools to address the impacts of climate change. On the left, it highlights major climate-related stressors affecting maize growth, such as heat, drought, moisture stress, and heavy metal toxicity, which lead to limited growth, disrupted nutrient uptake, impaired photosynthesis, reduced grain filling rates, and overall yield reduction. On the right, advanced biotechnological tools are presented, including transgenic research, QTL mapping, transcriptome analysis, and genome editing, allowing for precise identification and manipulation of genes associated with stress resilience. The figure also lists key breeding targets for climate adaptation, such as tolerance to high temperatures, drought resilience, and low precipitation adaptability, which are essential for developing maize varieties that can thrive under changing environmental conditions. The bottom section emphasizes the need for genetically modified and drought-tolerant maize varieties to effectively respond to climate change, ensuring sustainable production under adverse environmental conditions (Adopted from Wei et al., 2023)
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