Adaptability, stability and environmental stratification of genetically and nongenetically modified corn in the Cerrado

Abstract

Crop yield depends on interaction between genetic and environmental factors, making it essential to study adaptability, stability and environmental stratification in order to mitigate the effects of this interaction. Four experiments were conducted to assess competition between corn cultivars in the 2018/19 growing season, two in Paraíso do Tocantins and two in Palmas, with sowing performed on November 5, 2018 and January 15, 2019. Cultivar-environment interaction was analyzed in genetically modified (GM) and non-GM commercial corn cultivars in the Vale do Araguaia region of Tocantins state (TO), Brazil, A randomized block design was used for all the experiments, in 3 × 12 factorial scheme, with three doses of nitrogen fertilizer as topdressing (50, 100 and 150 kg of N ha-1) and 12 commercial cultivars (six non-GM, 1CHD, 2CV, 3CV, 4CV, 5CTH, 6CDH and six GM, 7GTH, 8GTH, 9GSH, 10GSH, 11GSH, 12GSH. For statistical analysis, the N dose in each experiment represented a different environment. The characteristic studied was grain yield, using the adaptability and stability methods as well as environmental stratification. Different responses were observed between the GM and non-GM cultivars. Most of the GM and non-GM cultivars were better adapted to favorable and unfavorable environments, respectively. All the environments exhibited similar behavior regardless of location, sowing time and the N dose used, demonstrating that fewer environments can be used in future breeding research.

Adaptability and stability of grain yield and maize tassel traits

“…The joint variance analysis showed significant effects for genotype, environment, and G×E interaction for all four traits (Table 4). Similar results for G×E interactions were observed by CHANGIZI et al (2014), BUSANELLO et al (2015), PRADO et al (2016), GAMI et al (2017), FARIA et al (2017), SANTOS et al (2018a, PINTO et al (2019), BERNINI & GUIMARÃES (2020), Eckardt et al (2022), andSHOJAEI et al (2022) in maize traits, demonstrating the necessity of evaluating genotypes over multiple years, seasons, or cultivation locations.…”

“…Several authors have used the Eberhart and Russel (1966) method for different traits, including grain yield (CHANGIZI et al, 2014;BUSANELLO et al, 2015;PRADO et al, 2016;FARIA et al, 2017;PINTO et al, 2019;BERNINI & GUIMARÃES, 2020;ECKARDT et al, 2022;SHOJAEI et al, 2022), oil content (SANTOS et al, 2018a, and phenological and morphological traits (e.g., male and female flowering and plant and ear height) (BERNINI & GUIMARÃES, 2020;GAMI et al, 2017;PRADO et al, 2016). Nonetheless, no adaptability and stability studies were reported using the EBERHART & RUSSEL (1966) method for tassel traits, which are extremely important when selecting and recommending genotypes.…”