SELECTION OF A CORN HYBRID FOR SYSTEMS MECHANIZED PLANTING IN PANAMA

Abstract

With the aim of selecting a corn hybrid to be used in the mechanized planting system in Panama, the adaptability and stability of many normal grain yellow corn hybrids was evaluated. To achieve this, 40 trials were planted in different locations. The trials were planted in fields of collaborating farmers during five years (2016-2020). All genetic material evaluated came from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Maize Program. The number of hybrids varied over the years, so the experimental design also varied. Alpha Lattice designs with three replications were used. An individual variance analysis and a combined REML type analysis per year were applied to the data obtained, eliminating from the combined analysis all locations with a repeatability of less than 0.05. The means were separated using the Least Significant Difference and stability through the GGE-SReg Biplot Model. The analysis of individual variance per year and combined across years showed highly significant differences between the different hybrids evaluated for the variable grain yield and other agronomic characteristics. After five years, the tester 30F35 had a yield of 6.75 t·ha^-1, and this was surpassed 18% by the single cross CLTHY15107 with a yield of 7.96 t·ha^-1. The stability analysis identified the latter as the most stable across locations in three of the five years and among the three most stable in the other two years. Analysis of the reliability of the normalized response indicated that in eight out of ten locations CLTHY15107 outperformed the control. According to the results of this research, it is concluded that this simple cross meets the requirements to be registered and its planting could be recommended by farmers in the Republic of Panama.