GENOTYPE BY ENVIRONMENT AND STABILITY ANALYSES OF DRYLAND MAIZE HYBRIDS.

The phenotypic analysis of new candidate varieties at multiple locations could provide information on the stability of their genotypes. We evaluated the stability of 11 maize hybrid candidates in five districts in East Java Province, Indonesia. Maize hybrids with high yield potential and early maturity traits derived from a diallel cross were planted in a randomized complete block design with two checks (Srikandi Kuning and BISI-2) as a single factor with four replicates. The observed traits were grain yield per hectare and harvest age. The effects of environment, genotype, and genotype × environment interaction on yield were highly significant (P < 0.01). KTM-1, KTM-2, KTM-4, KTM-5, and KTM-6 showed higher average grain yield per hectare than the checks (Srikandi Kuning = 8.49 ton ha-1 and BISI-2 = 7.32 ton ha-1) at five different locations. The average harvest age of 11 candidates was less than 100 days. KTM-4 and KTM-5 had production yields that were higher than the average yield of all genotypes in all environments (Yi > 7.78 tons ha-1) and were considered stable on the basis of three stability parameters, i.e., Finlay-Wilkinson, Eberhart-Russell, and additive main effect multiplicative interaction (AMMI). KTM-2 had the highest yield among all tested genotypes (9.33 ton ha-1) and was considered as stable on the basis of AMMI but not on the basis of Finlay-Wilkinson and Eberhart-Russell. KTM-1 performed well only in Pamekasan, whereas KTM-6 performed well only in Sampang. Thus, these two genotypes could be targeted for these specific locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]