Stress tolerant varieties to counter climate change
Climate change affects the yield of crops through increased exposure to high temperature, water, salinity and flooding stresses
Abstract
Climate change affects the yield of crops through increased exposure to high temperature, water, salinity and flooding stresses. The CGIAR has produced rice, maize, wheat, sweetpotato and potato varieties that have increased tolerance to climatic stresses and these have been rolled out in Africa and Asia to increase smallholder resilience to climate change.
These benefits came about by either increasing the physiological resilience to climatic extremes or the use of early-maturing varieties that allow cropping calendars to be adjusted to cope with seasonally unfavourable conditions. Strengthened breeding systems, using the latest technologies, together with more open international exchange of germplasm, and rapid change in varieties are fundamental components of this adaptation strategy
Citation
Reynolds, M.; Cairns, J.; Stirling, C.; Low, J.; Campos, H.; Wassmann, R. 2017. Stress tolerant varieties to counter climate change. In: Dinesh, D.; Campbell, B.; Bonilla-Findji, O.; Richards, M. (eds). 10 best innovations for adaptation in agriculture: A supplement to the UNFCCC NAP Technical Guidelines. CCAFS Working Paper no. 215. Wageningen, The Netherlands. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). pp. 25-30