SUSTAINABILITY INDEX AND MULTI-TRAIT STABILITY-BASED IDENTIFICATIONOF CLIMATE-RESILIENT MAIZE HYBRIDS UNDER MULTI-ENVIRONMENTEVALUATION

Abstract

Climate variability has emerged as a major challenge to maize production in semi-arid agro-ecosystems, influencing
genotype performance and yield stability across environments. Identification of hybrids combining high productivity with stable
performance is therefore essential for sustainable maize production and climate-resilient agriculture. The present investigation
was conducted during Rabi, 2023–24 at three representative maize-growing locations of Telangana, viz., Maize Research Unit
(MRU), ARI, Rajendranagar; Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar and Agricultural Research Station, Tornala. Thirteen
maize hybrids along with two standard checks were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with two replications. Observations
were recorded on yield and yield contributing characters. The Sustainability Index (SI) was employed to assess yield stability
across environments, while multi-trait stability analysis based on the Ideotype Distance Index (IDI) was used to identify superior
hybrids by integrating grain yield and associated agronomic traits. Considerable variation was observed among the hybrids for
sustainability and stability parameters. Hybrid BH 419207 recorded the highest Sustainability Index (94.9%), followed by BH
417144 (88.9%) and BH 417177 (82.9%), indicating superior adaptability and resilience to environmental fluctuations. Multi-trait
stability analysis further identified BH 419207 (IDI = 0.82), BH 417144 (IDI = 1.14) and BH 417177 (IDI = 1.48) as the most
desirable hybrids. The combined application of Sustainability Index and multi-trait stability approaches effectively identified
climate-resilient hybrids, and BH 419207, BH 417144 and BH 417177 are recommended for wider evaluation and potential
cultivation in Telangana and similar agro-climatic regions.