Comparative indexing of early-maturing corn hybrids in multi-environment trial

Abstract

The article shows the results of a multi-environment trial which was conducted in 2022 to determine the adaptability of corn hybrids and identify genotypes which are better to choose for a short growing season. Ten new early-maturing (FAO 130-150) corn hybrids were studied in 6 plant breeding organisations – ecological sites in 4 soil-climatic zones of Russia such as the Central Black Earth region, North Caucasus, Urals, West Siberia. The corn hybrids were evaluated by plasticity (bi), stability (σd2) and selection indices: the breeding value of the cultivar (Svc), the selection index (Si) and the selection value index of the cultivar (Ssvi). Nalchik (Ij = +1.51), Belgorod (Ij = +0.18) and Voronezh (Ij = +0.04) had favourable environmental conditions, unfavourable environments were in Chelyabinsk (Ij = -1.09), Omsk (Ij = -0.56) and Pyatigorsk (Ij = -0.08). Hybrid 140/26 had the highest grain yield (6.50 t/ha) on average, it exceeded the best standard by 1.15 t/ha. The hybrids 140-28 had the highest mean yield (7.66 t/ha) and 140/24 (7.65 t/ha) under favourable conditions, hybrid 100/28 was the best (5.42 t/ha) in unfavourable environments. Hybrids 100/24 (18.7 %), 140/25 (19.0 %), 100/27 (20.5 %) had the lowest grain moisture at harvest. Hybrids 140/24 (bi = 1.82, σd2 = 0.08), 140/28 (bi = 1.54, σd2 = 0.09), 100/26 (bi = 1.45, σd2 = 0.17) with high ecological plasticity and stability were recommended to grow under intensive growing conditions. It was shown that the application of the technique for evaluating corn hybrids by selection indices makes it possible to identify regionally oriented genotypes. It is better to grow hybrids 100/28 (Svic = 8.44) и 100/27 (Svic = 8.26), which had an optimal balance of environmental stability, grain yield and grain moisture at harvest, in unfavourable conditions with a short growing season.