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This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the performance of released quality protein maize varieties in the lowlands of Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia in 2014. As treatment, four varieties; BH540, MelkassaQ4, MelkassaQ6 and MHQ138 was planted in the complete randomized block design with three replications in two locations including Humbo and Badessa. In the 2014, growing season there was shortage and uneven distribution of rainfall compared to the relative normal distribution of rainfall in the lowlands of study area. Analysis of variance and mean comparison results prevailed the presence of significant difference (p<0.05) for some of the studied traits. These traits are plant height, root height, grain yield, biomass and kernels per ear. Plant height was negatively (r =-0.18 and r =-0.12) correlated with ear height and root height respectively and positively with low value correlated (r = 0.042) with grain yield. Similarly root height was strongly correlated with grain yield and biomass (r = 0.24 and r = 0.35) in the positive direction. Regarding the yield performance, from three QPM varieties, MHQ138 performed better than that of others and the check BH540.

<p class="abstrakinggris">The use of improved varieties with wider adaptability and stability is necessary to maximize the productivity of durum wheat. However, due to genotype by environment interaction (GEI) effect, superior genotypes in one environment could be inferior in other environments. Hence, a multi-environmental trial (MET) was commenced to determine the magnitude of GEI effect and identify stable durum wheat genotypes across environments. The MET was conducted using nine durum wheat cultivars in randomized completely block design with three replications across four contrasting locations in 2020 crop seasons. The result of combined analysis of variance showed the presence of significant differences among the main effects; environments, genotypes, and GEI effects for grain yield. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) combined ANOVA for main effects of  environment, genotype, and GEI revealed highly significant differences among cultivars with 66.2%, 26.4%, and 7.3% share of sum square variation, respectively, of the total variation. AMMI and genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE) Bi-plot analysis identified the cultivars Fetan, Denbi, and Mangudo as high yielders and adaptive to the favourable locations. AMMI stability value and yield stability index identified Mangudo as the most stable and adaptive cultivar across locations. The AMMI Bi-plot analysis showed that the first two interaction principal component analysis (IPCAs) captured 90.45% of the total interaction sum of squares (ISS), where IPCA1 took 55.61% and IPCA2 accounted for 34.84% of GEI effects. This study identified Mangudo as the most stable cultivar with acceptable yield while Fetan was the top yielder genotype across locations.</p>