Abstract

Lack of water and low nutrition affecting crop during the critical period of maize are the main determinants in grain yield variability. Grain yield and anthesis-silking interval (ASI) are two of the main traits used in maize breeding programs. Under drought conditions, selection for a reduced ASI has resulted in greater and more stable grain yield, however, these traits are largely influenced by the environment, showing a high GxE. Thus, the phenotypic plasticity of these traits deserve evaluation. Phenotypic plasticity is the ability to change the phenotype according to environmental conditions. Therefore, plasticity can be high (unstable trait) or low (stable trait). In the current research, 7 temperate maize hybrids were assessed in 13 environments, including water and nitrogen stress environments, in the Mediterranean climate area of Chile with the objective to evaluate grain yield, anthesis-silking interval, and phenotypic plasticities.