Statistical Analysis of Multi Environment Trials on Durum Wheat: The Use of AMMI and Stability Indices to Model Genotype by Environment Interaction

Abstract

Background: Durum wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide with an annual production of 37 million tons and Ethiopia is the major durum wheat producer in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Crop breeders have worked to create genotypes with improved grain production, quality, and other desirable qualities under a variety of diverse environmental situations. Genotype × environment (G×E) interaction is one of the main complications in the selection of broad adaptation in most breeding programs. Objective: The goal of the study was to assess genotype by environment interaction in multienvironment trials and identify stable and adaptive durum wheat varieties using AMMI and stability measures. Method: The experiment was conducted at Beati-Maymesanu in Ganta-Afeshum Woreda, Agarba in Degua Tembein Woreda, Atsela in Emba Alajie Woreda, and Zata in Ofla Woreda during in 2015 and 2016 under Production and contrasting growing conditions. Thirty six durum wheat varieties were released using Simple Alpha Lattice design with two replications. This study was used AMMI and stability measures for assessing among environments and genotypes. Result: The Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference among genotypes, environments and GEI for durum wheat. Stability analysis of grain yield was executed using environmental variance, shukla‟s stability, Wricks‟ ecovalence and AMMI stability value (ASV). The analysis of variance for the AMMI model were highly significant variation differences between genotypes, environments and the interaction effect of G x E. The first two interaction principal component axes (IPCA) of the AMMI model accounted for 48.73% of the total G x E interaction sum of squares for grain yield. Conclusion and Recommendation: According to the AMMI biplot analysis, Genotypes G30 (55D3), G11 (248478) and G25 (236295) were more stable, while, G33 (222415) and G21 (8436) are the unstable genotypes and E5 (Beati-Maymesanu-2016) was the highest yielding environment while, E8 (Zata-2016) was the low yielding among eight environments. Keywords: AMMI, Genotype by Environment interaction