Multi-Environment Trials and Stability Analysis for Yield-Related Traits of Commercial Rice Cultivars

Abstract

Multi-environment trials (METs) are essential in plant breeding programs to evaluate crop productivity and adaptability in diverse environments. In this study, we demonstrated the practical use of METs to evaluate grain yield and yield-related traits using 276 Korean rice cultivars, divided into three maturity groups (81 early-, 90 medium-, and 105 medium–late-maturing cultivars) grown in three regions (Jeonju, Suwon, and Miryang) and two planting seasons (early and regular planting) for two years. Due to the narrow genetic variability of the commercial cultivars, which are cultivated in relatively similar environmental conditions, genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) effects were not statistically significant. However, genotype and environment evaluation using GGE biplot analysis exhibited distinct patterns of mega-environment formation, winning genotypes, ranking genotypes, discriminating power, and representativeness according to the differences in planting seasons and regions. Moreover, the simultaneous selection of stable high-performance genotypes using a weighted average of absolute scores from the singular-value decomposition of the matrix of BLUPs (WAASB) and a multi-trait stability index (MTSI) revealed six recommended genotypes each for early-maturing (Manho, Namil, Unkwang, Odae 1ho, Sinunbong 1ho, and Jonong) and medium-maturing (Sobi, Cheongdam, Shinbaeg, Boramchal, Mimyeon, and Saemimyeon) cultivars, and four genotypes for medium–late-maturing cultivars (Hanmauem, Dami, Baegseolchal, and Hangangchalbyeo). The winning genotypes of each trait can be used as parents to develop regional specialty cultivars by fine-tuning favorable traits, and recommended genotypes can be utilized as elite climate-resilient parents that can aid breeders in improving yield potential and stability across the planting seasons and regions.

Deciphering genotype‐by‐environment interaction in new soybean lines based on multiple traits using different adaptability and stability methods

“…This was based on stability factors such as lower values of Wi 2 , σ 2i , P i , and s 2 di, a high BLUP factor, and bi equal to 1. The use of different parametric stability assessments has also been reported in wheat (Bornhofen et al, 2017), rice (Lee et al, 2023), safflower (Afzal et al, 2021), and oat (Kebede et al, 2023).…”

Selection of Superior sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) genotypes using Selection Indexes of multi-trai under rhizomania-contaminated areas

“…The WAASBY index balances yield mean and stability to select high-yield and stability genotypes. (Lee et al, 2023;Monteiro et al, 2018;Taleghani et al, 2023).…”

Country-wide, multi-location trials of Green Super Rice lines for yield performance and stability analysis using genetic and stability parameters

“…The package also provides functions for visualizing the patterns of GEI and to identifying stable yield performing genotypes 21 . Several studies have been conducted in MLYTs in rice and data was subjected to METAN R package for stability analysis and GEI analysis 22 , 23 . Present study aimed to scale out suitable genotypes that have stable yield performance in a broad range of rice-growing ecologies in Pakistan; that have the potential to become a variety for general cultivation by farmers.…”