Spike characteristics include spike length, total spikelet number per spike, number of fertile flowers, spike density, spike fertility, grain number, thousand kernel weight, the number of spikes per square meter, harvest index and the grain yield during the flowering and ripening stage. The six winter and one facultative variety differed in earliness, derived in part from the allele of the Ppd-D1 gene and phenological observation. The two sites significantly differed in the soil moisture, which varied during continual microclimate monitoring. The spike architecture of winter wheat was affected by drought. The plant samples from the site FIELD 2 (more drought stressed) showed a higher reduction in spike characteristics such as a lower spike length, total spikelet number, number of fertile flowers and spike fertility, leading to a lower yield than the site FIELD 1. Both early and late varieties possess compensatory abilities to create the grain yield during drought stress; however, the timing and duration of exposure to drought determine the application and success of the compensatory ability. In our experiment, the late varieties (photoperiod sensitive) performed better in yield than the early varieties during both growing seasons. That is at odds with the generally recommended “drought escape strategy” (early varieties) and suggests a possible direction for variety selection and breeding in arid areas in Central Europe.

The study examines the morpho-physiological differences in leaf characteristics between two species of C4 plants: sorghum and maize. The research was conducted in field conditions where plants were rainfed. Both species different varieties were cultivated at two distinct sites that exhibited variations in soil texture and drought stress incidence according to the vegetation condition index (VCI). Samples were collected during various growth stages to analyze the relative water content (RWC), proline levels, and stomatal density. Sorghum plants displayed higher RWC, proline levels, and stomatal density than maize plants. In sorghum, the biochemical traits, such as the proline content, may play a more critical role in withstanding water-limited conditions than in maize in our experiment. Under the same water restriction period, sorghum showed higher RWC levels. Sorghum plants reduced stomatal density under more water-limited conditions, which proves its plasticity. Additionally, early maturation played a crucial role in both species. The early sorghum variety KWS Kallisto and maize variety Walterinio KWS had a more stable yield at both sites. Nevertheless, the highest yields were found in the later varieties, KWS Hannibal and KWS Inteligens. The higher proline levels and the relative water content are drought-tolerant mechanisms and may be used to indicate drought intensity in field conditions. Our findings spotlight the influence of genetic diversity and genotype-environment interactions in determining crop responses to drought stress, providing valuable information for future breeding programs to enhance drought tolerance in crops.

Despite all the complications that arise with root research, such as?slow, laborious, and unclear genetics, roots are a?promising object of?interest for breeders because many root traits are compatible with high yield potential. It?is a?great ...

We conducted a three-year field study to evaluate the above-ground biomass yield, plant height, and tillering capacity of eight Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench varieties under two contrasting soil conditions (heavy clay soil and sandy soil) with different water retention. At the Field Experimental Station Žabčice of Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, we assessed yield performance and yield stability across years and environments. We applied standard agronomic practices and recorded detailed soil and climatic data. Significant differences were found among varieties and between locations in terms of plant height and tillering. KWS SOLE showed the most stable yield (11.80–15.63 t ha⁻¹), while LATTE, KWS TARZAN, and KWS HANNIBAL achieved the highest average yields (up to 20.16 t ha⁻¹). Plant height showed a strong positive correlation with biomass yield. This relationship underscores plant height as a valuable trait for selecting sorghum varieties with improved productivity and drought resilience. Variations in tillering capacity and environmental conditions also significantly influenced yield outcomes, highlighting the complex interaction between genotype and environment. These findings offer practical insights for cultivar selection and breeding strategies that aim to enhance the performance of sorghum varieties under the variable climatic conditions of Central Europe.

The amount of total polyphenol content (TPC) in the grain could provide insights into the conditions during maturation and might also serve as an indicator of the grain’s ability to germinate in the malting process or as seeds in the field. Varieties with higher natural TPC content might exhibit better germination parameters both in the field and in the malt house. This study investigates the relationship between TPC and seed germination characteristics i.e. seed vigour in four spring barley varieties over two years, considering diverse environmental conditions and exposure to drought conditions. The evaluation of seed germination characteristics in barley, with a focus on the root length and average diameter under drought conditions (−0.5 MPa) and suboptimal temperature (10 °C), was conducted. Drought conditions were induced using polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). After durations of seven and fourteen days, the germinated seeds from the Petri dishes were scanned and subjected to analysis using WinRHIZO software following the metrics: Len 7, Len 14 (root length after seven and fourteen days in cm) and AvgD 7, AvgD 14 (root diameter after seven and fourteen days in mm). The findings support our initial hypothesis, indicating a variety-specific relationship between seed germination characteristics and increased TPC, where higher germination parameters might be associated with elevated TPC levels in some barley varieties.