Garcia Pando, Gilberto ArquimidesMontero Bances, FernandoTorres Limascca, Maria ElenaAlvarez Contreras, Selwyn OmarVasquez Damiano, WildoVillantoy Palomino, AbrahamRuiz, YoelEscobal Valencia, FernandoCántaro Segura, Hector BaroniPaitamala Campos, OmarMatsusaka Quiliano, Daniel Claudio2026-01-092026-01-092025-12-25Garcia, G., Montero, F., Torres, M. E., Alvarez, S., Vasquez, W., Villantoy, A., Ruiz, Y., Escobal, F., Cántaro-Segura, H., Paitamala, O., & Matsusaka, D. (2026). Adaptability, yield stability, and agronomic performance of improved purple corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids across diverse agro-ecological zones in Peru. International Journal of Plant Biology, 17(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb170100032037-0164http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12955/2985Purple corn (Zea mays L.) is a nutraceutical crop of increasing economic importance in Peru, yet its productivity is highly influenced by genotype × environment (G × E) interactions across heterogeneous agro-ecological zones. Therefore, selecting suitable genotypes for specific environments is essential to optimize variety deployment and maximize site-specific yield. Five purple-maize genotypes (INIA-601, INIA-615, Canteño, PMV-581, and Sintético-MM) were evaluated in four contrasting Peruvian sites using a randomized complete-block design. Grain yield, field weight, anthesis–silking interval (ASI), plant height, and ear-rot incidence were analyzed with combined analysis of variance (ANOVA), the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), genotype and genotype-by-environment (GGE) biplots, Weighted Average of Absolute Scores (WAAS), weighted average of absolute scores and best yield index (WAASBY), and Y × WAAS indices. Environment accounted for 90.1% of field-weight variation (p < 0.0001) and 50.2% of grain-yield variation (p < 0.001), while significant G × E interactions (3.93% and 18.14%, respectively) justified bilinear modeling. AMMI1 and GGE "which-won-where" biplots identified INIA-615 and PMV-581 as broadly adapted, with INIA-615 achieving the highest WAASBY and positioning in quadrant IV of Y × WAAS (high yield, high stability). INIA-601 and Sintético-MM exhibited exceptional stability (low ASV) but moderate productivity; Canteño showed limited adaptability. Chumbibamba emerged as a key discriminating, high-productivity location. From an agronomic perspective, INIA-615 is recommended for high-productivity valleys such as Sulluscocha and Santa Rita, where its yield potential and stability are maximized. These findings underscore the potential of integrating multivariate stability metrics with physiological and disease-resistance traits to guide the selection of superior purple corn cultivars. Overall, INIA-615 represents a robust candidate for enhancing yield stability, supporting sustainable intensification, and expanding the nutraceutical value chain of purple corn in the Andean highlands.application/pdfenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Purple cornGenotype × environment interactionAMMI and GGE biplotYield stabilityMulti-environmental trialsMaíz moradoInteracción genotipo × ambienteBiplot AMMI y GGEEstabilidad del rendimientoEnsayos multiambientalesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttps://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.01https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17010003Zea mays; Genotipo; Genotypes; Adaptabilidad; Adaptability; Zona agroecológica; Agroecological zones; Antocianina; Anthocyanins; Ensayo de variedades; Variety trials; Mejoramiento genético; Genetic improvement