Water and radiation use efficiencies in maize: Breeding effects on single-cross Argentine hybrids released between 1980 and 2012

•Progress in grain yield of F1 maize hybrids was 0.5 % per year of release.•It was explained by non-simultaneous effects on shoot biomass and harvest index.•No breeding effect was detected for ETC and IPARC.•Trends in radiation and water use efficiencies explained the described responses.