VARIATIONS AMONG MAIZE (Zea Mays L.) HYBRIDS IN RESPONSE TO HEAT STRESS: HYBRIDS SELECTION CRITERIA

High ambient temperature is one of the most alarming climatic factors in challenging productivity and sustainability crops worldwide. An effective way to cope this problem development climate smart, heat resilient maize hybrids through evaluating cultivated germplasm. The main objective current study was evaluate local multinational for their performance under optimal stress conditions devise a selection criterion identification tolerant hybrids. Nine hybrids, including multinational, were evaluated across three consecutive spring seasons (2017-18, 2018-19 2019-20) at Maize Millets Research Institute, Yusafwala, Sahiwal. Results revealed presence highly significant differences among both all seasons. Kernel yield found be correlated with net photosynthetic rate (0.735**), shelling percentage (0.910**) relative cell injury (-0.775**) conditions. Cluster biplot analysis unveiled that two YH-5507 YH-5427 while i.e. NK-8711, P-1543 DK-6724 productive control/optimal only. These can invaluable sources genes/alleles smart genotypes.