Genotype-environment interaction (GEI) plays a critical role in genotype adaptation, making it essential for selecting stable, widely adapted genotypes for cultivation. GEI estimation enables the identification of genotypes that perform consistently across diverse conditions. Models and stability indices derived from fixed-effect and/or mixed-effect models are frequently utilized for analyzing GEI and selecting genotypes. In this study, thirty hybrids developed through a diallele fashion, along with two checks, were grown across three environments during kharif 2023. Analysis of variance revealed significant contributions from the environment and GEI, alongside genotypic effects for eight traits studied, covering flowering, plant architecture and yield. Plot yield (t/ha) was subjected to additive main effects and multiplicative interaction effects (AMMI) analysis to study the stability and genotype interactions with the environment. The first two principal components (PCs) of AMMI analysis explained 69.1% and 30.9% of the total variation, respectively, identifying stable hybrids such as MH-TN-15 and MH-TN-30. The Genotype-genotype×environment (GGE) biplot further highlighted the adaptability and stability of all the genotypes, with the first two PCs explaining 86.11% of the G+GE variation. A multi-trait stability index (MTSI) was employed to select stable and high-performing genotypes across multiple traits. A comprehensive analysis of all the genotypes through various indices showed that hybrids MH-TN-15 and MH-TN-30 were consistently selected as stable and high-yielding genotypes across all indices, demonstrating higher yields than check hybrids and being identified for cultivation. These methods underscore the importance of combining yield and stability metrics for effective genotype selection in varied environments.

Global demand for livestock products increases the need for high-quality fodder. However, urbanization resulted in the depletion of agricultural lands expanding the demand for food, feed and fodder. To overcome this issue, the available fodder and agricultural wastes are preserved anaerobically to feed animals. This efficient process of preserving the fodder anaerobically throughout the year is known as ensiling and the preserved fodder is known as silage. To improve the quality and longevity of silage, various additives such as microbial inoculants (bacterial inoculants, yeast), enzymes, chemical additives (organic and mineral acids), nutrients (urea, ammonia, sodium chloride, sodium di acetate) and fermentation accelerators (molasses, starchy substance, grains) are added. Addition of these additives reduces pH to below 4.2, proteolysis up to 40 %, ammonia volatilization, population of yeasts, molds and enhances fermentation, improves the aerobic stability by 2-5 days, optimizes nutrient retention and quality of silage. By supporting better livestock nutrition, silage additives increase 5 to 20% milk production, lactation period and promote beneficial microbial populations in the rumen of cattle. This review describes the usage and effectiveness of various additives that are used to enhance the silage quality in terms of storage and nutritional content.

Maize is the third important staple food crop grown globally. The demand for maize production has increased significantly due to its multiple uses, including food, feed and various industrial applications. As a result, the area under maize cultivation is expanding, driven by its lucrative market price. Being a highly adaptive crop, the development of high-yielding hybrids better suited to climate change will help bridge the gap between demand and supply. Maize is an allogamous crop, exhibiting greater genetic diversity compared to autogamous crops. Therefore, intensified exploration of maize genetic diversity and effective utilization of germplasm will enhance the maize breeding programs. However, the domestication of maize has led to a decline in genetic diversity and the loss of valuable alleles. Human selection has significantly altered the morphology of maize from its wild ancestor. CIMMYT currently maintains around 28000 maize accessions, including landraces and wild relatives. Genetic diversity can be analysed using D2 statistics and clustering methods, employing morphological, molecular, quantitative and qualitative data. Careful consideration is needed when selecting appropriate methods and software for such analyses based on available data. In recent years, SSR markers and SNPs have gained popularity for diversity analysis. Studying genetic diversity in maize is crucial for identifying novel traits and the introgression of these traits into new hybrids using advanced technology requires further attention.

Maize (Zea mays L.), a key staple crop, supports human consumption, animal nutrition and diverse industrial uses. High-density planting (HDP) is an important strategy to improve crop yield per unit land area. Leaf angle (LA) is a key factor in determining maize plant architecture, photosynthetic efficiency and suitability for HDP. An urgent need exists to elucidate the genetic basis of these complex, polygenic traits, such as LA, to address the remaining information gaps in optimising canopy architecture. This review offers comprehensive insights into the molecular basis of regulatory networks involved in LA morphogenesis. It revisits advances in mutant and quantitative genetics research, identifying quantitative trait locus (QTL) across all 10 chromosomes and candidate genes through diverse studies employing genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genotyping by sequencing and linkage analysis. Leaf angle regulation is mediated by phytohormones and their crosstalk, as well as agronomic and environmental factors. Future progress depends on integrating advanced phenomics tools, such as 3D LiDAR, UAV-based hyperspectral imaging and deep learning, with CRISPR/Cas9-assisted breeding to precisely tune LA without undesirable pleiotropy. A standardised, ideotype-driven framework targeting upper-erect and lower-horizontal leaves will enable the development of climate-resilient, high-yielding maize varieties optimised for dense canopies.