The objective of this work was to compare the productive performance, the adaptability and stability of single-crosses, three-way crosses and double-crosses maize hybrids originated from the same set of inbred lines. Ten single-crosses, 30 three-way crosses, and 15 double-crosses, besides nine commercial hybrids used as checks were evaluated. A 8x8 triple lattice experimental design was used in 12 environments. Ear yield corrected to 13% moisture content was the evaluated character. Individual and joint analysis of variance were performed and, in case of the presence of genotype x environment interaction the analysis of stability was proceeded by estimating the ecovalence and by applying the AMMI (Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction) method. The average productivity of single-crosses, three-way-crosses, and double-crosses from the same inbred lines did not statistically differ, and yield differences between the best-performance single-cross, three-way-cross and doble-cross hybrids was low (about 10%), which indicates the cost/benefit analysis as necessary to choose cultivars for commercial cropping. Double-crosses contributed the least to the genotype x environment interaction, followed by three-way crosses and single-crosses. The methodology allows of identifying high yielding and stable hybrids in all the evaluated maize types
Zea mays; adaptability; AMMI; stability; ecovalence
