Desempenho de híbridos de milho no sul de Minas Gerais e Noroeste de São Paulo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of maize hybrids developed by the maize genetics and breeding program of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), in two cities in southern Minas Gerais and one city in northwestern São Paulo. The experiments were conducted during the 2022/23 growing season, in the cities of Lavras-MG, Ijaci-MG, and General Salgado-SP. A completely randomized block design was used, with three replications. A total of 28 hybrids were evaluated, including two commercial hybrids used as controls and 26 hybrids from UFLA's maize genetics and breeding program. The following traits were assessed: grain yield in t/ha (PROD), plant height in meters (AP), and ear height in meters (AE). Data were analyzed using the R software, following the linear mixed model approach (REML/BLUP). All traits showed significant differences (p<0.05) according to the likelihood ratio test (LRT). The WAASB, WAASBY, and MTSI methodologies were used to assess stability and select hybrids based on both univariate and multivariate stability and average performance of traits. Hybrids 26, 18, 20, and 8 had the highest predicted genotypic means (𝜇BLUPs) for grain yield in Lavras. In Ijaci, the highest 𝜇BLUPs for this trait were observed in hybrids 23, 20, 26, and 15. In General Salgado, hybrids 15, 6, and 17 showed the best performances. In the combined analysis, hybrids 15, 23, 20, 18, and 26 had the highest 𝜇BLUPs for grain yield. Hybrids 23, 13, 10, and 9 demonstrated the best indices for grain yield stability according to the WAASB methodology. Hybrids 23, 25, 15, 13, and 10 obtained the best indices according to the WAASBY methodology, which ranks hybrids based on their average grain yield and stability. Hybrids 3, 10, 17, 16, 18, 1, 8, and 26 were selected according to the MTSI index, as they presented the best average performance and stability for all evaluated traits. The study allowed for the identification of high-yielding hybrids specific to each evaluated region and with potential to become commercial cultivars, offering farmers new varieties with high yield potential and adaptation to their edaphoclimatic conditions.