Short‐stature maize hybrids reduce the number of locations with wind damage by 64% in the US Midwest

Abstract Future agricultural systems must become more resilient as the impacts of climate change increase. One expected outcome of climate change is an increase in severe thunderstorms with high velocity straight line winds, with deleterious impacts on crops. We collected in‐season standability data from short‐stature maize ( Zea mays L.) hybrids derived from both conventional breeding and biotechnology approaches and tall comparators from 444 site‐years on standability between 2019 and 2021. This large dataset provides us with an overview of the frequency of crop damage from storms, as well as a comparison of short‐stature and tall hybrid performance when exposed to damaging winds. Looking at data across locations and germplasm, 10.6% of tall hybrid plots sustained some level of wind damage, while 3.8% of short‐stature hybrid plots sustained damage, a 64% reduction. Root lodging observations comprise the largest standability dataset, with 39 site‐years. Stalk lodging and greensnap were less common, with 9 and 8 site‐years, respectively. Yield data from 41 locations with plant damage show a range of yield loss from 28 to 75 kg ha −1 per unit of plant damage, depending on the type of damage, with an average loss of 34 kg ha −1 per unit of total plant damage. Reduced root lodging in short‐stature hybrids can be partially explained by a reduction in height combined with a reduction in the stiffness of the root system. The reduction of plant damage for short‐stature maize hybrids will provide risk mitigation for growers under more variable climate conditions in the future.