Environmental stability of iron and zinc concentrations in grain of elite early-maturing tropical maize genotypes grown under field conditions

Assessment of the stability of micronutrients is important in breeding for the enhanced nutritional quality of staple food crops as a means to alleviate malnutrition. Twenty early-maturing elite tropical maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes were evaluated over 2 years at three locations representing three distinct agroecologies in West and Central Africa (WCA). The objectives were to analyse the pattern of genotype×environment interactions (GEI) and environmental stability of iron and zinc concentrations in grain using the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) statistical model. Results indicated that the effects of genotypes, environments and GEI were significant (P