Eleven elite maize (Zea Mays L.) cultivars, consisting of two commercial and nine promising hybrids, which had been evaluated for three consecutive years in the National Performance Trials, during 1991 through 1993 giving a total of 21 environments, were subjected to a stability analysis. The objectives were to assess their relative performance, examine adaptability and stability for gain yield, and compare them with farmer preference to a particular maize hybrid in Kenya. The combined analysis of variance revealed genotypes, environments and the interaction among genotypes and environments to be highly significant. An experimental hybrid significantly better than on of the two commercial hybrids, while two other experimental hybrids were significantly better than one of the commercial hybrids. Estimates of parameters that describe stability of performance over environments indicated that all the genotypes were stable. However, the regression coefficient of cultivar means on environmental index indicated commercial hybrid 614D, a popular cultivar with small-holder farmers, as specifically adapted to low yielding environments. In intensive small-holder cropping systems, not only is stability of paramount importance but also some level of adaptation to low input conditions such as low fertility, moisture stress, late planting and weed competition, is essential.

English

9712|AGRIS 9702

Jose Juan Caballero

CIMMYT Publications Collection