GGE biplot and AMMI analysis for stability and adaptability of dual-purpose maize hybrids tested across multi-environments for baby corn and fodder yield

Abstract

Meeting the growing demand for baby corn necessitates the development of dual-purpose hybrids that are both high-yielding and genetically stable. Accordingly, the present study aimed for multi-location testing of twelve newly crossed elite baby corn hybrids along with one check CMVL BABY CORN-2 across four environments during Rabi 2021-22. Analysis of variance underscored the significant impact of genetic (G), environmental (E), and their interaction (GE) on all traits under study. The environment was the most important source of variation for all the traits, followed by G (3.37–10.51%) and GE (1.03–2.77). The first two principal components explained 88.48, 87.52 and 76.03% of the total variation for DS, BCY and GFY, respectively. Environmental evaluation classified locations into three distinct mega-environments viz. ME I encompassed Hyderabad and Hazaribagh, and ME II and III were represented solely by Ludhiana and Varanasi, respectively. Based on the GGE biplot and AMMI analysis, genotypes T9 and T11 exhibited superior performance and stability across multiple locations over the check for both BCY and GFY traits.