Maize (Zea mays L.) is cultivated all over the world (Bălan, 2017) due to its multiple uses in human nutrition, in the feeding of animals subjected to fattening (Cojocariu, 2005), in the starch, alcohol, oil, biofuel and some industries. cosmetics (Pîrvulescu et al., 2008, Ram Reddy and Jabeen, 2016). The expansion of maize cultivation in Europe is due not only to its nutritional qualities but also to its characteristics: high resistance to drought, fall, to some diseases and pests, a good use of fertilizers and water. The paper aims to assess the degree of similarity / diversity for a set of maize hybrids, obtained from inbred lines created at the Agricultural Research and Development Station Lovrin, regarding the production of stas / hectare kernels, under the given conditions, in order to select valuable hybrids, drought resistant. Twenty maize hybrids were analyzed as biological material, the experiment being arranged according to randomized blocks, with a density of 50,000 plants per ha-1. The analyzed maize hybrids had a different behavior, in response to climatic factors specific to 2020, the maximum value being recorded for the hybrid C20-7020 (10731 kg.ha-1). The mentioned hybrid differs significantly from the other ones, registering an increase of 37% compared to the experience average. The hybrid C18-7018 with a production of 9204 kg.ha-1 stas kernels is also approaching the maximum value. The results regarding the production of stas kernels per hectare for hybrids, classify the 20 maize hybrids studied on the basis of similarity in three classes. Maize breeding program, an applied and avant-garde science, has first-rate tasks in the future in order to create productive hybrids, adapted to the environmental conditions - respectively to the drought during the summer months specific to the studied area.

Zea mays L., stas kernels production, drought resistance

field crops and pastures

Presentation: None