Exploring the trait‐yield association patterns in different oat mega‐environments of Canada

Abstract

This article presents a graphical method to visually analyze the trait‐by‐yield association (TYA) patterns based on data from multi‐location, multi‐year crop variety trials, exemplified using oat data from trials conducted across Canada from 2017 to 2022. Each year a new set of 60 to 66 oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding lines were tested in replicated yield trials at nine to 11 locations, and data for yield, key agronomic and quality traits, and crown rust scores were collected at all or some of the locations. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between yield and each trait for each trial. The correlation coefficients from different locations and years was arranged in a TYA‐by‐Trial (TYT) two‐way table. This table was subjected to singular value decomposition and the resulting first two principal components were used to generate a TYT biplot. The TYT biplot revealed three oat mega‐environments (MEs) in Canada, consistent with the conclusion from previous mega‐environment analyses, indicating that each ME had its characteristic TYA patterns. It was found that yield was consistently and positively correlated with crown rust (Puccinia coronata var. avenae) resistance, test weight, kernel weight, and groat content in ME1 (the crown rust prone regions of Ontario); yield was correlated positively with plant height but negatively with oil content in ME2 (the northern regions of eastern Canada). Interestingly, crown rust resistance was found to contribute negatively to yield in ME2. No strong and consistent TYAs were found in ME3 (the Canadian prairies). Different types of TYAs have different uses in genotypic selection.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Two types of biplots to integrate multi‐trial and multi‐trait information for genotype selection

“…avenae) scores (CRUST), were not included for different reasons (Figure 1). DTH and DTM were not included because later genotypes tend to yield higher in Quebec (Yan, Hadinezhad, et al, 2023). Although earlier maturity is generally preferred, it is not justified to improve early maturity at the expense of yield.…”

“…Nevertheless, for systems where early maturity is a key to production, DTM must be included in the analysis. Plant height was not included because it was also positively correlated with yield in Quebec (Yan, Hadinezhad, et al, 2023). Although shorter plant stature tends to lead to better lodging resistance, any such effect should have been reflected in the lodging score, which was already included.…”