Grain yield stability parameters of single cross maize hybrids and their reciprocal crosses

Abstract

Grain yield stability was tested in 10 single cross maize hybrids and their reciprocal crosses in 2016 and 2017, within a total of seven environments. Five were early hybrids with Lancaster ZPL-1 line as a mutual parent (ZPH1 to ZPH5 where ZPL-1 was a father, and ZPH1r to ZPH5r with ZPL-1 as a mother). Other five were late hybrids with mutual ZPL-2 Lancaster line (ZPH6 to ZPH10, and ZPH6r to ZPH10r). Significant difference at p<0.01 level was observed between average grain yield of the early vs. late hybrids (10.82 vs. 11.04 tha-1). Also, stability parameters were significantly different; bi was 0.946 on average for the early hybrids and 1.054 for the late ones (p<0.01), thereby confirming that the early hybrids performed better in poorer environments, and vice versa. This is a common finding in Serbia. Regarding S2di, the difference between early and late hybrids was significant at p<0.1 level (0.166 and 0.487 for early and late hybrids, respectively). Also, S2di was significantly different at p<0.1 level for early hybrids and their reciprocals, as well as all the other hybrids and their reciprocals. Namely, reciprocal hybrids were less stable (Lancaster as a mother). Best-performing hybrid was ZPH6r, yielding 12.06 tha-1 on average (the highest yield in the trial), with bi=1.16, and S2di=0.06. The hybrid performed well in favourable agronomical conditions, as well as maintaining grain yield stability across other environment types.