Maize (Zea mays L.) is globally acknowledged as a versatile cereal crop with vital contributions to food systems, animal nutrition, and industrial applications (Kumar et al., 2022). Its inherent adaptability permits successful cultivation across diverse agro-ecological zones in India, positioning it as a strategic crop for ensuring national food and feed security, while also supporting bioresource development (Yathish et al., 2022;Kumar et al., 2021). As per FAOSTAT (2023), maize cultivation in India encompassed 10.74 million hectares, yielding 38.09 million tons, whereas at the global scale, maize covered 208.23 million hectares with production of 1.24 billion tons. With the implementation of India's National Bio-Energy Policy, maize has gained added significance for its contributions to food and renewable energy systems.Among the diversified uses of maize, baby corn-a nonfertilized cob harvested shortly after silking-has emerged as a climate-smart and dual-purpose crop. It serves the dual goals of supplying nutritious fresh vegetables and producing foragegrade biomass suitable for livestock systems. The crop's early maturity and low input requirements make it particularly wellsuited to marginal lands, peri-urban areas, and seasonal fallows, aligning with goals for sustainable intensification and urban food system resilience (Hossain et al., 2022). Baby corn cultivation offers complete biomass harvest, including stalks, husks, and foliage, which can be efficiently used as tender green fodder. This enhances overall resource-use efficiency, especially in mixed farming systems (Kumar et al., 2023). Nutritional analyses show that baby corn cobs are nutrient dense containing around 18% protein, along with fiber, minerals (Ca, Mg, P, Fe), and vitamins (ascorbic acid, β-carotene), with good starch content and high protein digestibility. Equally important, the green fodder harvested from baby corn provides 6.5-9.0% crude protein, 24-28% crude fiber, and 7.7-9.9% ash, underscoring its role as a high-quality feed resource (Hooda and Kawatra, 2013).This dual functionality-marketable vegetable cobs and highquality green fodder-makes baby corn a strategic component of a circular agricultural bioeconomy. Its cultivation supports ecosystem-based adaptation and aligns with global sustainability targets. In urban and peri-urban settings, baby corn production contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by enhancing nutritional access, to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through efficient biomass utilization, and to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by promoting adaptive, land-efficient systems (Kumar et al., 2023;Singh et al., 2024). The crop's short growth period and capacity to fit between cropping windows or in small urban plots allow for multiple harvests annually, ensuring rapid returns for both smallholders and urban agricultural entrepreneurs.The rising demand for fresh vegetables, fueled by changing dietary preferences and increasing health awareness in urban populations, has created a favorable market pull for baby corn near metropolitan zones (Boraiah et al., 2022;Kumar et al., 2020;Yathish et al., 2024). In contrast to traditional field maize, baby corn offers benefits such as reduced post-harvest losses, lower water and nutrient requirements, and closer proximity to marketsfactors that cumulatively improve the sustainability and resilience of food supply chains. Nonetheless, baby corn breeding remains underdeveloped. Given maize's cross-pollinated nature, hybrid development offers an efficient approach to improve early maturity, marketable yield, and biomass production (Das et al., 2021;Singh et al., 2021;Neelam et al., 2020). However, strong genotype × environment interactions (GEI) often obscure trait expression and complicate direct selection in breeding programs (Devi et al., 2019;Rajora et al., 2017;Sah et al., 2016), particularly under rainfed or microclimatic variations typical of peri-urban agriculture.These environmental sensitivities demand robust performance testing across diverse conditions to ensure trait stability and adaptability. Such evaluations are particularly relevant in expanding urban and semi-urban agricultural zones, where variability in microclimate, soil, and water access is common. Therefore, multi-environment trials (METs) are indispensable for identifying resilient genotypes suited to diverse agro-ecological contexts (Kumar R. et al., 2024). Statistical tools like the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) and Genotype plus Genotype × Environment (GGE) biplot analyses have proven effective in dissecting GEI, enabling the visualization of genotype responses, and identifying stable performers across environments (Gauch, 1992;Yan et al., 2000;Yan and Kang, 2003;Yan and Tinker, 2006;Yan et al., 2007). These models not only capture both additive and multiplicative effects but also guide breeders in defining mega-environments for precise genotype targeting.Against this backdrop, the present study evaluated 61 baby corn hybrids developed at ICAR-IARI, Jharkhand, along with two commercial checks, across four agro-ecologically distinct locations-Hazaribag, Ludhiana, Karimnagar, and Srinagar. These locations represent both conventional and emerging zones for rainfed and peri-urban agriculture. The study was guided by three major objectives: (i) to quantify the GEI for key agronomic and biomass traits such as days to first picking, baby corn weight, total green husk weight (TGHW), and fodder weight (FW); (ii) to identify high-yielding, stable genotypes with dual-purpose potential suitable for sustainable intensification; and (iii) to delineate representative testing environments that can inform future hybrid deployment and adaptive breeding. By addressing these aims, the study contributes to the development of yield-resilient, climateadapted baby corn hybrids and advances system-level resilience by promoting integrated crop-livestock production strategies, particularly in regions facing forage scarcity or seeking to optimize biomass utilization.A total of 61 experimental baby corn hybrids (New F 1 crosses made at ICAR-IARI, Jharkhand during Rabi 2023-24), were evaluated alongside two commercial check varieties, AH7043 and CMVLBC-2, to assess their dual-purpose performance in terms of baby corn yield and forage potential. The trials were conducted under rainfed conditions in a multi-location framework during kharif 2024 across four agro-climatic zones of India: Hazaribag (North Eastern Plain Zone), Ludhiana (North-Western Plain Zone), Karimnagar (Peninsular Zone), and Srinagar (North Hill Zone) (Figure 1). These locations were deliberately selected Geographical locations of multi-environment baby corn hybrid trials conducted under rainfed conditions across four agro-climatic zones of India, highlighting site-specific rainfall and soil characteristics.to represent contrasting environmental conditions-spanning gradients in altitude, rainfall, soil types, and temperature regimesthereby providing a robust platform for dissecting genotype × environment interaction (GEI), as outlined in multi-environment trial protocols (Gauch, 1992;Yan and Kang, 2003).Field experiments at each location were laid out in an alpha lattice design (seven blocks and nine genotypes/block) to reduce spatial error and enhance precision in genotype comparisons (Gauch and Zobel, 1997). Each genotype was evaluated as one plot per genotype per location in two replications. Standardized agronomic practices for baby corn cultivation were adopted at all sites, ensuring uniformity in sowing density, nutrient management, and crop care across environments. Nutrient was applied uniformly at all locations with recommended dose of 125:60:30 kg ha -1 of N:P 2 O5:K 2 O. Phosphorus and potassium were applied basally at sowing, while nitrogen was applied in three equal splits-one-third as basal, one-third at the knee-high stage, and the remaining one-third at tasseling. The following traits were recorded: Days to first picking (PD)-as a proxy for early maturity; Baby corn weight with husk (BCWH), Baby corn weight without husk (BCWoH)-as the principal yield trait; Total green husk weight (TGHW)-to estimate green biomass potential; and Fodder weight (FW)-measured at two sites (Ludhiana and Hazaribag), representing the tender above-ground biomass at harvest stage. The inclusion of FW was designed to evaluate the hybrids' potential as green fodder providers, particularly relevant in mixed or peri-urban livestock production systems. Given baby corn's early harvest window, the remaining green biomass is highly palatable and nutritionally valuable as ruminant feed (Kumar et al., 2023).For the traits PD, and a of was across the four locations 2020). the trials were laid out in an alpha lattice from each environment were first to for and the genotype were used for the The was to estimate the effects of genotype environment and their interaction × The applied FW is the fodder yield of the genotype in the environment and is the genotype is the environment and is their to the of FW from only two and for FW were to assess performance and was developed the of for FW and This approach identify hybrids with both high fodder yield and were plots FW to stability in to yield (Figure GEI biplot was conducted and were a and with 1 and enabling both and and Tinker, These analyses the of stable of and of environments their and representative et al., 2000;Yan and Kang, environmental was conducted through and in the biplot with were highly while with to the environment were representative et al., et al., These strategic for future selection in hybrid testing and enhance the of hybrid two stability were from the first two interaction principal and of the lower stability et al., and which yield and stability a enabling selection for high yield and stability across of conducted the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) the of three principal to first picking baby corn weight without husk and total green husk weight agro-climatic The highly contributions from genotype environment and genotype × environment interaction (GEI), the and of trait expression in baby corn under rainfed multi-location systems. 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sites for hybrid and Ludhiana and with the a to genotype In Hazaribag a short with a from the to genotypes and lower in breeding contexts et al., the and environmental genotype adaptability and and with their are suited for environments under favorable the and performance across distinct agro-climatic zones, as hybrids for cropping systems. performance their in diverse peri-urban farming and systems to regions with rainfall or marginal where stability is a breeding these genotypes represent valuable for both and the of Karimnagar, and Ludhiana as environments offers strategic for the design and of future These sites can as locations that improve the of genotype selection enhance breeding and adaptive trial under future the study the of the biplot approach not only as a for genotype but also as a of environment dual role that enhances breeding in an by agro-climatic and the for the of tools like biplot with and as by and a framework for baby corn breeding. 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These trait are particularly valuable in peri-urban zones, where and environmental of these traits supports the of selection that genotypes a of early maturity, high cob yield, and biomass Such can guide selection resilient of under diverse agro-climatic conditions while to system-level the of genotypes early with yield and biomass traits enhances cropping system multiple and of or marginal urban with the of sustainable where are without It also the for breeding to the of urban and semi-urban where are for security, nutritional and As by et such dual-purpose baby corn hybrids can a role in urban supporting and SDG 2 (Zero SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and and SDG 13 (Climate of this multi-location the significance of genotype × environment interaction (GEI) expression and yield stability in baby corn particularly under agro-climatic conditions (Gauch, 1992;Yan and Tinker, et al., The highly GEI for traits like baby corn weight without husk and days to first picking the of multi-environment trials (METs) and robust models such as and biplot to identify stable and genotypes et al., 2000;Yan and Kang, et al., 2024). 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The of as a for also the of traits in enhancing breeding without and Kang, biplot environment Karimnagar and Srinagar as highly and representative environments for genotype testing to their and proximity to the Environment their as locations for future hybrid trials and Tinker, et al., et al., 2024). Ludhiana was also to be and while Hazaribag for hybrid These the of identifying testing environments that enhance trial and selection particularly in diverse overall to sustainable intensification genotypes in this study cropping systems that are especially valuable in and mixed farming (Hossain et al., 2022;Kumar et al., 2023). the of baby corn as both a fresh vegetable and green fodder aligns with the of integrated systems, nutritional while supporting livestock in a the hybrid also the of valuable and in their These for and strategies, which can the development of dual-purpose hybrids et al., 2021;Neelam et al., et al., 2024). Such enhance breeding precision and to resilient agricultural the strategic breeding both food and fodder with strong for 2 (Zero SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and and SDG 13 (Climate The of testing and trait a sustainability framework offers a for climate-smart baby corn suited to the of and future multi-location study genotype × environment interaction (GEI) for baby corn the for hybrid across agro-ecological the 61 hybrids and high marketable cob yield and while and high yield with These genotypes represent strong for deployment under production of fresh biomass yield from Hazaribag and Ludhiana the dual-purpose potential of baby genotypes for and FW to checks, their for both fresh cob and fodder like and high FW with low stable forage potential under peri-urban and mixed farming systems. The of and biplot models of stable genotypes and testing sites, with Ludhiana and Karimnagar emerging as and representative environments. These are highly relevant to breeding programs for sustainable the hybrids and their and to trait and enhance baby corn with SDG SDG and SDG
Kumar et al. (Tue,) studied this question.