Maize (Zea mays) is one of the main agricultural crops, and lately it has to deal with unfavourable environmental conditions. 29 elite lines were crossed in a cyclic system with five newly created inbred lines, resulting in 145 hybrids. The hybrids were tested in 2024, at 70,000 plants/ha, in randomized blocks, with three replications. During the anthesis period, temperatures recorded exceeded the thermal maximum at which the maize develops optimally. The stress during this period negatively influenced pollination and implicitly yield. The inbred line TF314 showed the best general combining ability, of +883kg ha-1. The maternal lines that transmitted the highest average yield were TA483, TF320 and TE292. The hybrid with the highest yield was the TA477 x TF313. All hybrids resulting from the crossing of the newly created lines with the elites TA452, TA483 and TE292 had yields above the average. All newly created hybrids had a high percentage of unlodged plants at harvest (94-100%). Although the yield in 2024 was quite low compared to the specifics of the cultivation area, these hybrids showed a superior ability to adapt to the unfavourable conditions. The best hybrid combinations will continue to be tested in the coming years and TF314 line will become an elite line.
CĂLUGĂR et al. (Thu,) studied this question.