The aim of this research was to determine how many evaluations (replications) were necessary to predict the performance of corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars. Grain yield data were used, from 286 cultivar competition trials of corn, carried out in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, in the crop years of 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. For each assay was carried out the analysis of variance, estimated the repeatability coefficient and calculated the number of replications needed to predict the real value of the cultivars, based on genotypic determination coefficient of 0.80 and 0.90. Assays with three and four replications are sufficient to identify superior cultivars of the corn, in relation to the grains yield, with respectively 72.40 and 81% accuracy of its real value.
Zea mays L.; repeatability; selection; experimental precision
