Behavior phenotype of corn cultivars in the Brazilian Middle-North

Abstract

Two experiments aiming to study corn plant stability focusing on recommendations propose were conducted in the years of 2002 and 2003. One of the experiments equaled a total of 43 cultivars (16 hybrids and 27 varieties) while the second totaled 45 hybrids grown in a variety of environments of the Middle-North Region of Brazil. The experiments were conducted in Piauí and Maranhão States in 5 and 4 environments, respectively; the experimental design was random blocs, with three replications. The material studied presented genetic variation among the cultivars on either experiments; an inconsistency on plant yield behavior, due to environmental discrepancies, was also observed. Hybrid material presented greater adaptability in comparison to the varieties, while plants that presented greater adaptability within varieties constitute an important alternative for the local agriculture. Varieties that presented greater adaptation power and wider adaptability justified recommendation for the different production system in existence in the studied region