Assessment of yield stability of maize inbred lines in multi-environment trials

Abstract

Stable performance of maize hybrids at a specific growing region is critical for obtaining high and stable yield. The objectives of this study were to assess grain yield stability of fourteen maize inbred lines from five different diverse regions of Bangladesh during 2010 - 2011 growing season (rabi) using genotype main effect plus genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot and to identify maize inbred lines that have both high mean yield and stable yield performance across test environments of Bangladesh. The GGE biplot method was effective in recognition that the inbreds G2 and G13 to be the most desirable ones for growing in Jessore (E1), G6 and G8 in Gazipur (E2), G3 in Rahmatpur (E3) and G1, G12, G14 and G9 in Debiganj (E5) region. The inbreds G5 and G7 had average grain yield and high stability, whereas the inbred line G10 had high grain yield and high stability. Besides, the inbred line G13 was the least stable across different environments. This technique can serve as a useful tool for recommendation of maize inbreds for specific growing regions taking into account the specificities of hybrids and growing conditions.Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 51(1), 61-68, 2016