The effects of simulated waterlogging, drought stress and their combination were examined in a model experiment in Martonvásár, Hungary, in 2018. Four modern winter wheat varieties (‘Mv Toborzó’ (TOB), ‘Mv Mambó’ (MAM), ‘Mv Karizma’ (KAR), ‘Mv Pálma’ (PAL)) and one old Hungarian winter wheat cultivar (‘Bánkúti 1201’ (BKT)) were tested. Apart from the control treatment (C), the plants were exposed to two different abiotic stresses. To simulate waterlogging (WL), plants were flooded at four leaf stage, while in the WL + D treatment, they were stressed both by waterlogging and by simulated drought stress at the early stage of plant development and at the heading stage, respectively. The waterlogging treatment resulted in a significant decrease in plant biomass (BKT, TOB), number of spikes (TOB), grain yield (BKT, TOB), water use (BTK) and water-use efficiency (TOB, MAM, PAL) compared to the controls. The combined treatment (WL + D) led to a significant decrease in plant height (BTK, MAM, KAR), number of spikes (BTK, TOB, MAM, KAR), thousand kernel weight (TOB), harvest index (BTK), biomass, grain yield, water-use efficiency (in all varieties) and water use (BKT, TOB, MAM, KAR) of the plants. The best water-use efficiency was observed for MAM; therefore, this genotype could be recommended for cultivation at stress prone areas. The varieties MAM, KAR and PAL also showed good adaptability.

Field crop production must adapt to the challenges generated by the negative consequences of climate change. Yield loss caused by abiotic stresses could be counterbalanced by increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentration, but C₃ plant species and varieties have significantly different reactions to CO₂. To examine the responses of wheat, barley and oat varieties to CO₂ enrichment in combination with simulated drought, a model experiment was conducted under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were grown in climate-controlled greenhouse chambers under ambient and enriched (700 ppm and 1000 ppm) CO₂ concentrations. Water shortage was induced by discontinuing the irrigation at BBCH stages 21 and 55. Positive CO₂ responses were determined in barley, but the CO₂-sink ability was low in oats. Reactions of winter wheat to enriched CO₂ concentration varied greatly in terms of the yield parameters (spike number and grain yield). The water uptake of all wheat cultivars decreased significantly; however at the same time, water-use efficiency improved under 1000 ppm CO₂. Mv Ikva was not susceptible to CO₂ fertilization, while no consequent CO₂ reactions were observed for Mv Nádor and Mv Nemere. Positive CO₂ responses were determined in Mv Kolompos.

Evapotranspiration (ETR), reference evapotranspiration (ET₀), and seasonal ETR totals were determined for soybean over two growing seasons, at Keszthely, Hungary, using traditionally operated and converted evapotranspirometers. The study aimed to document the plant–water response of two soybean varieties (Sinara: Sin; Sigalia: Sig) which have different water demands. Three water supply treatments were tested: unlimited (WW) watering, 50% of crop water requirement (RO), and rainfed (P). Reconstructed evapotranspirometers allowed crop water deprivation to be simulated under field conditions. ETR sums were higher during the cooler 2017 than in the warmer 2018, calling attention to the importance of being informed about more detailed meteorological variables other than monthly (seasonal) means. In addition to variation in daily mean air temperatures (T_a), maximum T_a played a key role in determining ETR under naturally occurring extreme weather conditions in 2018. Irrespective of the variety, daily mean ETR was on average 65–75% greater than in the water-stress treatment. Unexpectedly, water stress-tolerant Sin used slightly more water than Sig, which was bred for standard weather conditions. Measured mean ETR was as much as 10% higher than derived ET₀ rates, causing crop coefficient to exceed 1.0 during flowering. Careful selection of the soybean variety when practicing water-saving management may lead to more efficient variety improvement in a breeding program. It may also be important for soybean producers and farmers to adopt the best variety, aiming to decrease the use of irrigation water to increase seed yield.

The intensity and the frequency of extreme drought are increasing worldwide. An elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration could counterbalance the negative impacts of water shortage; however, wheat genotypes show high variability in terms of CO₂ reactions. The development of the root system is a key parameter of abiotic stress resistance. In our study, biomass and grain production, as well as the root growth of three winter-wheat varieties were examined under optimum watering and simulated drought stress in a combination with ambient and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. The root growth was monitored by a CI-600 in situ root imager and the photos were analyzed by RootSnap software. As a result of the water shortage, the yield-related parameters decreased, but the most substantial yield reduction was first detected in Mv Karizma. The water shortage influenced the depth of the intensive root development, while under water-limited conditions, the root formation occurred in the deeper soil layers. The most intensive root development was observed until the heading, and the maximum root length was recorded at the beginning of the heading. The period of root development took longer under elevated CO₂ concentration. The elevated CO₂ concentration induced an accelerated root development in almost every soil layer, but generally, the CO₂ fertilization induced in the root length of all genotypes and under each treatment.

One of the most important limiting factors of high-quality wheat production is Fusarium head blight infection. The various Fusarium species not only may cause severe yield loss but—due to toxin production—the grains also might become unsuitable for animal and human nutrition. In the present research, our aim was to examine the Fusarium resistance of a special mapping population (’BKT9086-95/Mv Magvas’) and identify the genetic factors and chromosome regions determining the tolerance to Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium graminearum. The connection between the genetic background and the Fusarium head blight sensitivity was confirmed by the analysis of variance in the case of three markers, among which the co-dominant pattern of the gtac2 and gtac3 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers might indicate a marker development possibility. Consistently expressed quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified on the chromosomes 2A, 2B, 2D, 5A, and 7A. Loci linked to resistance were identified on 11 chromosomes. During the investigation of phenological and morphological traits (heading date, plant height, ear compactness) influencing the head blight resistance and the location of the resistance QTLs, the total overlap was found in the case of the region identified on chromosome 2D and partial overlap on chromosomes 2A and 2B. Whereas 5A may be a rare allelic variant of a novel QTL.