Application of Bayesian Networks of Genotype by Environment Interaction Evaluation Under Plant Disease, Soil Types and Climate Condition-using Bayesia Lab

Abstract

Genotype by environment interaction (GEI) linked to plant disease, soil properties and climate conditions add potential value for a breeding program to underpin decision making. In understanding genotype x environment interaction, the most challenging factors are the identification of genetic variation for a range of traits and their responsiveness to the climate change factors. In order to study the complex relationships with genetic and non-genetic factors, the application of Bayesian network tools will help understand and accelerate plant breeding progress and improve the efficiency of crop production. In this study, we proposed the application of Bayesian networks (BNs) to evaluate genotype by environment interaction under plant diseases, soil type, and climate variables. An adapted to simulate multiple environmental trial (MET) data of maize (corn) was used to examine the performance of the BN predictive modeling using BayesiaLab for deriving knowledge and graphical structure for exploring GEI diagnosis and analysis. The results highlighted that genotypes have the same probability and the frequentist of rainfall, temperature, soil type, and disease type occurred as <=88 (46%), 35 (37%), clay (27%), and MB (47%) respectively, which have to monitor reflects in each discretization. This study provided a roadmap to knowledge modeling of GEI using BayesiaLab software. On a broader scale, this study helps predict the yield of crop varieties by understanding agronomic and environmental factors under farm conditions rather than conducting long-term agricultural testing under well-controlled conditions of the on-station trials. Future improvements of BNs application of METs should consider working on a larger and more detailed soil and irrigation system linked to agro system.