The identification of higher stable cultivars makes the cultivar recommendation process safer. The objective of this work was to evaluate the adaptability and stability of eight popcorn populations for grain yield and popping expansion in two environments of the north area of the state of Paraná. The populations and the control (ZÉLIA) were evaluated in Londrina and Faxinal in two agricultural years using randomized block experimental design with three replications. For the variance analysis the parameters of grain yield and popping expansion were taken into account and the adaptability and stability were estimated based on the model proposed by Eberhart and Russel. The hibrid ZÉLIA and the populations UEL PAPA, UE PASHA, UEL PO, UEL PAMPGA, UEL PAPCB and UEL PAPYY performed the best grain yield results, 3,203.50, 3,733.41, 3,512.08, 3,176.25, 2,847.49, 2,764.75 and 2,421.66 kg ha-1 and popping expansion 27.68, 25.05, 27.41, 27.17, 27.64, 28.60 and 27.36, respectively, presenting previsible behavior for the cultivation with low risks in the studied area.
Zea mays; yield; genotype x environment interaction
