Analysis of Genotype x Environment Interaction for Grain Yield in Maize Hybrids

Abstract

The considerable variation in soil and climate has resulted in large variation in yield performance of maize hybrids annually, thus GE interaction is an important circumstance for plant breeders and agronomists. The large GE interaction variation usually impairs the accuracy of yield estimation and reduces the relationship between genotypic and phenotypic values. The requirement for stable genotypes that perform well over a wide range of environments becomes increasingly important as farmers need reliable production quantity. The AMMI model is considered to be a better model for analysis of G×E interaction. It not only gives estimate of total G×E interaction effect of each genotype but further partitions it into interaction effects due to individual environments. The objectives of this study therefore were to determine the relative magnitude of GxE interaction effects on maize grain yield for a set of 32 hybrids. The weather conditions from the experimental period had the highest contribution (44.87 %) over the yield variability, whereas the genotypes had a lower influence (23.09 %), and genotype x environment interaction contributed only with 10.56% to the total variation. The hybrids: PR36V74, PR36K67, PR36D79, DKC5276, DKC4490, PR36V52, registered an upper yield to the general mean, and are specifically adapted to the higher yielding environments, achieved higher yield in favorable climatic conditions for this crop. The hybrid DKC4685, DKC5143, DKC5276 with lower GSI value are considered the most desirable of both stability and high yield.