Genotype x Environment Interactions and Stability of Grain Yield of Maize Hybrids across Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian Agro-ecological Zones in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Maize is an important staple crop for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa and, particularly in Burkina Faso, where it ranks first among cereals since 2020. Available maize varieties are low yielding. To enhance maize production SEMAFORT, a seed company founded recently in Burkina Faso, introduced three-way hybrids. The present investigation was performed to assess 128 hybrids in 2018 and the best performing hybrids for genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions in 2019. The study was conducted at one location (Farako-Ba) during the first year of evaluation using an alpha lattice design and in five locations during the second year using a randomized block design. The second year of the study was conducted in two different agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso. The data were subjected to genotype and genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis using GenStat statistical package. The analysis revealed four mega-environments which discriminated the hybrids according to yield potential. In each mega-environment, the best yielding hybrids were identified and will be further tested and possibly released for production in specific areas. The most stable genotype in the highest yielding and most stable environment was SX8-121. It could be grown across Sudan and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso.