YIELD RESPONSE TO STAND DENSITY IN COMMERCIAL MAIZE HYBRIDS RELEASED DURING LAST 4 DECADES: SOWING DATE EFFECTS

AMAS, J.I.; CIRILO, A.G.; OTEGUI, M.E.

Pergamino

Congreso; XI Congreso Nacional del Maíz; 2018

AIANBA

Maize grain yield (GY) has an optimum-type response to stand density (SD). Optimum stand density (OSD) varies across environments and hybrids. The objective of current research was to analyze breeding effects on the variation in OSD across F1 hybrids (H) released to the Argentine market when grown in a contrasting environment (LSw: late sowing date) respect to the target breeding environment (ESw: early sowing date). GY response to SD (from 6 to 12 plants m-2) was analyzed for 4 F1 hybrids released between 1980 and 2012, and grown under ESw (16-Oct) and LSw (28-Dec). Hybrids differed in their GY response to SD. Genetic gain in maximum GY was only detected under ESw environment (p