EVALUATION OF MAIZE HYBRIDS FOR GRAIN YIELD STABILITY UNDER RAINFED AND IRRIGATED CONDITIONS USING GGE BIPLOT ANALYSIS

Stable performance of maize hybrids at a specific growing region is critical for obtaining high and stable yield. The objectivesof this study were to evaluate grain yield stability of sixteen maize hybrids from different origin in Ovce Pole region, inrainfed and irrigated conditions during 2009, 2010 and 2011 growing seasons, to graphically summarize the effects of G andGE interaction and to identify “which won where” and to recommend maize hybrids for this specific growing region, usingGGE biplot. The GGE biplot was useful in identification that the hybrids 16, 15 and 13 were the highest yielding and consequentlythe most desirable hybrids for growing in Ovce pole region. Furthermore, it was concluded that high and stable yieldscould be expected only with irrigation. The hybrid 4 had the lowest seed yield (6910 kg ha-1) and was the least stable acrossdifferent environments. This technique can serve as a useful tool for recommendation of maize hybrids for specific growingregion taking into account the specificities of hybrids and growing conditions.