Evaluation of grain yield of promising maize hybrids in multi-location trails

Fourteen promising maize hybrids together with commercial check hybrid، KSC 704، were evaluated using randomized complete block design with four replications in 12 locations (Karaj، Shiraz، Ghaemshahr، Mogan، Khoram Abad، Miandoab، Mashhad، Gorgan، Dezful، Esfahan، Jiroft and Iilam) for two cropping seasons (2011 and 2012). Analysis of variance and mean comparison of two years in each location showed that hybrid KSC 703 produced the highest grain yield in Karaj (13758 kg. ha-1)، Shiraz (14190 kg. ha-1)، Ghaemshahr (11084 kg. ha-1)، Gorgan (9227 kg. ha-1)، Isfehan (10784 kg. ha-1) and Jiroft (10556 kg. ha-1). It obtain the second rank for grain yield in Miandoab (19470 kg. ha-1) and Khoram Abad (6303 kg. ha-1) and third in Moghan (10010 kg. ha-1) and Mashhad (14730 kg. ha-1). The highest grain yield averaged over locations in 2011 and 2012 belonged to hybrids KSC 703with 12260 and 11321 kg. ha-1، respectively. Mean comparison، averaged over years and locations، revealed that hybrids KSC 703، KSC 702 and KSC 705 produced higher grain yield with 11290، 10965 and 10133 kg. ha-1، respectively. Superiority measure (Pi) revealed KSC 703 (Pi 0. 06)، KSC 702 (Pi=0. 78) and KSC 705 (Pi=1. 70) as superior hybrids. Based on grain yield and superiority measure، which combines high yielding and stability، hybrid KSC 703 was identified as the most promising hybrid for commercialization، should it performs successful in on-farm verification trails.