GEM Project-Derived Maize Lines Crossed with Temperate Elite Tester Lines Make for High-Quality, High-Yielding and Stable Silage Hybrids

Maize silage is fundamental for high milk production in dairy farming. The incorporation of new genetic diversity into temperate maize germplasm has the potential to improve adapted cultivars, and it could be especially useful improving nutrition varieties. goal this study assess lines from Germplasm Enhancement (GEM) project compete with commercial hybrids when crossed elite temperate-adapted testers. We examined 35 GEM-derived along five checks seven environments across three years trials that were arranged randomized complete block designs. Hybrids compared based on their conversion animal productivity units: yield per hectare (Milk ha?1) ton t?1). Broad phenotypic variation was observed both traits, broad-sense heritability Milk ha?1 t?1 0.24 0.31, respectively. Five out six top 15%, a multi-trait stability index, hybrids. large proportions variance attributed genotype by environment interactions (GEI) quality traits suggests local adaptation should leveraged breeding make use materials.