Importance of cultivars x locations and cultivars x years interactions in maize evaluation in the "safrinha"

Aiming to check the importance of cultivars x locations and cultivars x yea rs interactions, and to identify among the available hybrids those which ar e most adapted and stable for cultivation in "safrinha", the parameters of adaptability and stability were studied using the data previously obtained in some evaluation trials of maize cultivars in the "safrinha" during the y ears of 1993, 1994 and 1995, The experiments were conducted in the states o f Sao Paulo, Goias and Parana, in Brazil. The experimental design utilized was in randomized blocks with 3 replications. It was verified that the magn itude of variation of the interactions of the cultivars x years inside the localities was more prominent than that by localities, indicating the neces sity that evaluations of the cultivars in the harvesting period be accompli shed in more years. The cultivars differed based on adaptability and stabil ity of grain yield. The materials that distinguished themselves as more ada ptable and stable were the simple hybrid Zeneca 8452, the triple hybrid C 8 05 and the double hybrid Agromen 2012. Now, the double hybrids BR 201, Plan agri 411, AG 303 and C 125 were those that showed lesser adaptability and h igher instability.