Pattern analysis of genotype-by-environment interaction for grain yield in durum wheat

SUMMARYPattern analysis, cluster and ordination techniques, was applied to grain yield data of 20 durum wheat genotypes grown in 19 diversified environments during 2005–07 to identify patterns of genotype (G), environment (E) and genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction in durum multi-environment trials (METs). Main effects due to E, G and G×E interaction were highly significant, and 0·85 of the total sum of squares (SS) was accounted for by E. Of the remaining SS, the G×E interaction was almost 12 times the contribution of G alone. The knowledge of environmental and genotype classification helped to reveal several patterns of G×E interaction. This was verified by ordination analysis of the G×E interaction matrix. Grouping of environments, based on genotype performance, resulted in the separation of different types of environments. Pattern analysis confirmed the cold and warm mega-environments, and allowed the discrimination and characterization of adaptation of genotypes. However, several patterns of G×E interaction in Iran's regional durum yield trials were further discerned within these mega-environments. The warm environments tended to be closer to one another, suggesting that they discriminate among durum genotypes similarly, whereas cold environments tended to diverge more. The dwarf and early maturing breeding lines from ICARDA with low to medium yields and high contribution to G×E interaction were highly adapted to warm environments, whereas the tall and later maturing genotypes with low to high yields were highly adapted to the cold environments of Iran.