Boosting soybean adaptation in Africa through multi-trait selection in multi-environment trials

Dissecting the genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) effects in multi-environmental trials (METs) is a critical step in any breeding program before introducing new commercial varieties for cultivation in specific regions or across diverse environments. This dataset explores the application of two novel selection models: the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI) and the multi-trait index based on factor analysis and ideotype-design (FAI-BLUP). These models incorporate comprehensive stability parameters to identify high-yielding and stable barley genotypes across varying environmental conditions. In both models, the first three factors (FAs) with eigenvalues greater than 1 accounted for 92.3% of the total variation. The BLUP-based parameters, along with grain yield (GY) and the mean variance component (Ɵ), showed a positive selection deferential (SD) and correlated with the second factor (FA2). Notably, these models identified G3, G10, and G14 as the most stable genotypes. In conclusion, this dataset underscores the utility of comprehensive stability parameters and advanced selection models in identifying high-yielding, stable genotypes within the framework of METs.

Breeding for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important to deal with food insecurity and its effect on grain quality, particularly protein. A total of 1679 hybrids were evaluated in 16 different trials for grain yield (GY), grain quality traits (protein, starch and oil content) and kernel weight (KW) under optimum and managed low soil nitrogen fields in Kiboko, Kenya, from 2011 to 2014. The objectives of our study were to understand (i) the effect of low soil N stress on GY and quality traits, (ii) the relationship between GY and quality traits under each soil management condition and (iii) the relationship of traits with low-N versus optimum conditions. From the results, we observed the negative effects of low N on GY, KW and the percentage of protein content, and a positive effect on the percentage of starch content. The correlation between GY and all quality traits was very weak under both soil N conditions. GY had a strong relationship with KW under both optimum and low soil N conditions. Protein and starch content was significantly negative under both optimum and low-N conditions. There was no clear relationship among quality traits under optimum and low N, except for oil content. Therefore, it seems feasible to simultaneously improve GY along with quality traits under both optimum and low-N conditions, except for oil content. However, the negative trend observed between GY (starch) and protein content suggests the need for the regular monitoring of protein and starch content to identify varieties that combine both high GY and acceptable quality. Finally, we recommend further research with a few tropical maize genotypes contrasting for NUE to understand the relationship between the change in grain quality and NUE under low-N conditions.

The evaluation of genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) through multi-environment trials (METs) is an essential prerequisite in breeding improvement programs targeting wide adaptation. In this study, a panel of newly developed barley genotypes was examined under field conditions at five experimental sites across Iran's warm climatic zone during the 2023-2025 growing seasons. The pooled analysis of variance clearly demonstrated that effects of genotype (G), environment (E), and GEI influenced all measured traits, including the number of days to heading (DH), days to physiological maturity (DM), grain filling period (GFP), plant height (PH), 1000-kernel weight (TKW), and grain yield (GY). Analytical outputs obtained from the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model, as well as the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) approach, highlighted the substantial contribution of genotype × environment interaction to variation in grain yield. Insights from genotype-trait (GT) biplot analysis indicated that TKW and GFP were positively associated with GY. When genotypes were ranked using the multi-trait stability index (MTSI), G5 (1.689), G4 (1.914), G20 (2.380), and G14 (2.508) achieved the highest scores, reflecting superior performance and stability across test environments. A comprehensive evaluation strategy integrating classical AMMI, BLUP, Bayesian AMMI, and genotype-by-environment (GGE) biplot methodologies was employed to identify genotypes that combine productivity with stability. Across all derived stability parameters, including the weighted average of absolute scores (WAAS) and its yield-weighted counterpart (WAASY), genotype G4, derived from the pedigree [Sahra/3/Bda/Rhn-03//ICB-107766], consistently outperformed other candidates. This genotype exhibited a robust yield response, high stability, and broad environmental responsiveness. Independent validation using the stability Mahalanobis distance (SM) index and Y × WAASY biplot visualization further substantiated these findings. In conclusion, genotype G4 represents a strong candidate for subsequent validation trials and potential varietal release in the warm agroecological regions of Iran and other areas with comparable climatic conditions.

A strong culm is a key trait for reducing lodging in rice, arising from the intricate coaction of morphological and environmental factors. As both grain yield (GY) and culm strength (CS) are complex traits, modeling genotype × environment interaction (G × E) and quantifying genotypic stability are essential for recommending genotypes in multi-environment trials (METs). We evaluated a selected set of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from indica cv. Swarna and tropical japonica acc. IRGC 39111, along with checks across transplanted and direct-seeded environments, employing a multi-model approach to dissect mean performance and stability (MPS) for CS and GY traits. Phenotypic plasticity and stability were assessed using parametric and multivariate approaches, emphasizing AMMI, GGE, BLUPs, and the multi-trait stability index (MTSI). We further computed the weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB) to summarize G × E effects and WAASBY to integrate MPS. Selection was guided by genotype–ideotype distance via MTSI, and a genotype selection index (GSI) was used to synthesize yield and stability rankings. Breaking resistance (BR) was used as the primary proxy for CS. Significant G × E effects were detected for all traits. WAASB and WAASBY effectively captured stability and MPS, enabling the discrimination of broadly adapted and high-performing RILs. Multi-trait selection via MTSI improved selection efficiency relative to single-trait criteria and was consistent with AMMI-, GGE-, and BLUP-based inferences. The GSI identified RIL 315 (G16) as superior for GY and RIL 421 (G3) for BR. Consistently across AMMI, GGE, and MTSI, RIL 417 (G1), RIL 419 (G2), RIL 314 (G15), and tropical japonica acc. IRGC 10658 exhibited stable and high GY coupled with a strong culm across environments. A multi-model, multi-trait strategy robustly identified strong-culm, high-yielding RILs across variable environments. The convergence of WAASB/WAASBY, MTSI, and GSI supports the confident advancement of candidate lines and broadens the phenotyping framework and germplasm base for lodging resistance in future breeding programs.

The objectives of this study were to investigate: (1) the effects of genotype, environment, and their interactions on the oil content (OC), protein content (PC) and grain yield (GY) of 25 varieties of winter wheat, (2) the correlations among these traits in different environments, and (3) the effects of different climatic variables and their interactions with wheat genotypes for the examined traits. The field experiments were performed on three experimental sites in Serbia in 2009/10 and 2010/11. The most variable traits were GY and PC, while the variations of OC were lower. A significant positive correlation between wheat bran OC and GY was found in one, while highly significant negative correlations between PC and GY were found in three out of six environments. The partial least square regression (PLSR) triplots for protein content, oil content and grain yield enabled us to identify favorable and limiting climatic conditions for each trait and explained 31.9%, 32.6%, and 30.4% of the total variance, respectively. Cvs. Renesansa and Zvezdana were identified as genotypes with high average values for all traits, while cvs. Bankuty 1205 and Banatka were identified as potential sources of high protein content.

SUMMARYSix spring varieties of oats were sown in a glasshouse in winter and in spring. The grain was analysed for oil, protein and kernel content and 1000-grain weight, and the maturation period was measured.Oil content varied from 2·4 to 7·9% and protein content from 7·9 to 16·3%. Varietal differences in oil content between varieties were recognized and these were maintained at both sowing dates.Winter sowing, in comparison with spring sowing, resulted in an increase in oil and kernel content and 1000-grain weight, and a decrease in protein content. The increased oil content was partly due to increased kernel content, while the decrease in protein content was partly due to changes in 1000-grain weight.The maturation period was not affected by sowing date, but was positively correlated with oil content. Oil and protein content were not negatively correlated, and there were indications that it may be possible to select varieties which will produce grain high in both oil and protein.

Soybean is a globally significant legume crop, providing essential protein and oil for human and livestock nutrition. Improving oil and protein content simultaneously without compromising yield has been challenging due to the quantitative nature of these traits and their interrelationships. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis soybean of seed weight, protein, and oil content to facilitate marker-assisted breeding to enhance these traits. In this research, a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) was conducted utilizing 285 diverse soybean accessions from maturity group V, employing genotyping through the SoySNP50K platform. These accessions were tested in three environmental conditions of the southeast US for three traits: 100-seed weight, protein, and oil content. The study identified 18, 23, and 26 SNPs significantly associated with 100-seed weight, seed oil, and protein content. Colocalized protein and oil content regions were discovered on chromosomes 15, 16, and 20. Chromosomes 15 and 20 are well documented to have pleiotropic but opposite effects on oil and protein content, but both regions contain genes that affect individual traits, such as FAD2-1 and nodulin MtN21. A 1.92 Mb region on chromosome 11 exhibits a target region to improve oil and seed weight without affecting protein content. This study highlights key genomic regions and candidate genes influencing seed weight, protein, and oil content, with some regions affecting multiple traits. Hence, these findings provide a valuable foundation for marker-assisted selection to optimize seed weight and simultaneously enhance oil and protein content in soybean breeding programs.

QTL Mapping of Isoflavone, Oil and Protein Contents in Soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.)

Foliar fertilization with nitrogen (N) and nickel (Ni) at the end of the vegetative stage can decrease the abortion of flowers and pods of the plants and increase the productivity and protein content of soybean. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of N and Ni foliar application on the yield components and oil and protein content in soybean. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with six treatments (control [only inoculation], urea, ammonium sulfate [AS], nickel chloride [NiCl2], NiCl2+ AS, and NiCl2+ urea) and five replicates. Foliar application with urea increased the soybean grain yield (GY) by 46%, whereas the NiCl2 foliar application or NiCl2+ urea and NiCl2+ AS applications decreased the GY, shoot dry weight (SDW), weight of pods per pot, root volume, and grain size. N (AS and urea) and NiCl2 foliar applications had no effect on the oil and protein content in the grains, and application of 60 g ha−1 of Ni (132.4 g of NiCl2) caused a toxic effect on the plants and negatively influenced the GY and quality of grains.

The growing global demand for soybean protein is driving the expansion of cultivation into new agricultural frontiers. Kenya has been progressing in the development of soybean genotypes to identify those best adapted to its diverse agroecological conditions. However, the selection of genotypes with superior agronomic traits and high stability remains limited. This study quantified the magnitude of genotype-by-environment (GtimesE) interaction and selected genotypes with the best performance and stability based on a multi-trait approach. A total of 65 genotypes were evaluated across 19 environments from 2019 to 2023/24 growing seasons using a randomized complete block design. Stability was assessed using the Weighted Average of Absolute Scores index, considering plant height (PH), number of days to maturity (NDM), and grain yield (GY). Multi-trait selection was performed using the Desired Gain Index, applying a 20% selection intensity, followed by the genetic gain estimation. Using the likelihood ratio test, we identified significant effects of genotype, environment, and GtimesE interaction. The overall mean values observed in the experiments were 62.30 cm for PH, 120 days for NDM, and 1783.70 kg ha−1 for GY. In the multi-trait analysis, we selected the ideotypes G42, G26, G46, G35, G53, G41, G12, G54, G39, G52, G02, and G37. This selection resulted in a genetic gain of 6.5% for PH, 1.3% for NDM, and 15.6% for GY. These genotypes exhibited high genetic potential and adaptation to Kenyan conditions.

In the last 20 years, due to a significant reduction in industrial emissions and changes in the assortment of available fertilizers, a progressive sulphur deficiency has been observed in the soils of Poland and other parts of the world. This creates the need to supplement NPK fertilizers with sulphur and to conduct research on the optimization of its use as a fertilizer component. A three-year field study was carried out on Haplic Luvisols with low content of sulphur available to plants. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of sulphur-containing fertilizers (ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate and Wigor S) applied at rates of 20 and 40 kg S/ha on the yield of grain, straw and protein of spring barley. The study showed that application of sulphur, irrespective of its form, generally significantly increased the yield of spring barley grain and straw as compared to the control. However, no significant differences were found in the effects of the fertilizers on yield depending on either the fertilizer type or application rate. Protein content in the grain of the plants fertilized with sulphate sulphur was on average about 6% higher than in the grain of non-fertilized plants. As a result of the beneficial effect of sulphur on the yield of spring barley grain and on its protein content, the protein yield increased. The highest increases were obtained following application of sulphate fertilizers, especially at a 40 kg S/ha. The research suggests that irrespective of the form used, sulphur fertilization in the conditions of deficiency of this nutrient in the soil, with relatively high temperatures and high soil moisture, significantly affects the yield of spring barley grain and straw and the accumulation of protein in the grain.

Aim. The study of the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the yield and quality of winter wheat grain on meadow‐chestnut soil.Methods. Analyses of soil samples were carried out using generally accepted standard techniques. Assessment of the biological yield of grain and its structure was carried out according to the "Methodology of the State Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops". Tillage for winter crops after stubble predecessors was carried out according to the irrigation halfsteam system.Results. With an increase in the hydrothermal coefficient, a more elastic gluten is formed. Studies have shown that as the dose of nitrogen fertilizing increases, the indicators of the sowing qualities of seeds and the baking qualities of winter wheat grain of the Grom variety improve. In the best variant N90P90, the following indicators were obtained: seed germination energy – 99%, germination – 100%, weight of 1000 grains – 34.7 g, protein content – 14.8%, gluten 27.4%, which represent respectively 4%; 4%; 3.9 g; 1.3% and 6.1% more than in the control variant without the use of mineral fertilizers and higher than in the variants N30P90 and N60P90.Conclusion. The research area determines the use of the high‐intensity Thunder variety, which helps to stabilise productivity and improve product quality. The use of nitrogen top dressing (N30, N60 and N90) against the background of P90 increases the yield of winter wheat grain from 6.25 to 7.90 t / ha and improves the main indicators of baking qualities of grain: protein – 14.3–14.8% and gluten – 22.1–27.4%, the best option with nitrogen top dressing being a dose of N90 (N30 in autumn + N60 in spring).

Developing durum wheat cultivars with stable grain yield across diverse environments remains a key breeding objective. This study evaluated 118 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the drought-adapted cultivar 'Zardak' (Triticum durum) and the landrace 'Iran-249' (T. turanicum) with desirable seed characteristics, across four heterogeneous rainfed environments in Italy and Iran. The assessment focused on grain yield (GY) and grain protein content (GPC) stability. Combined analysis of variance revealed significant (p < 0.01) effects for genotype, environment, and their interaction for both traits. Line ZD-050 showed the highest GY (3.91 t ha⁻¹), while ZD-032 had the highest GPC (14.27%). Stability analysis using parametric and non-parametric methods, along with AMMI and GGE biplot modeling, identified ZD-050 as among the most promising genotypes according to yield-integrating and dynamic-stability approaches. This line showed high grain yield in methods such as the Superiority Index and Kang's rank-sum, although stability rankings differed across the used methods. This line maintained superior yield, demonstrated broad adaptability across environments, and had moderate protein levels, identifying it as an optimal candidate for breeding programs targeting yield stability and wide adaptation under rainfed conditions.

Tillage system is one of the factors that influences crop yield. The aim of the research was to determine the influence of the basic tillage systems on the change in soil fertility, yield and quality of corn grain in the soil and climatic conditions of the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory. The surveys were conducted in 2018–2020 on the experimental fields of the FSBSO “National Center of Grain named after P. P. Lukyanenko”. Soil – chernozems leached. All the experiments were carried out according to the standard methodology. In a stationary experiment, observations were performed to study several tillage practices: conventional tillage (25 cm depth plowing), mulch tillage with soil decompaction (reduced tillage done with a chisel plow to a depth of 32 cm for row crops), mulch tillage (deep tillage is excluded, disking to a depth of 10 cm twice or thrice is used instead). Plowing to a 25 cm depth improves the bulk of the soil in the 0–30 cm layer. However, chiseling to a depth of 32 cm and disking to a depth of 10 cm twice or thrice caused soil compaction. Standard tillage practice led to a decrease in the number of agronomically valuable aggregates (61.1 %) and their water resistance (59.4 %) compared to soil decompaction and minimum-tillage systems. The highest rates of productive moisture reserves were on the plots with traditional tillage and decompaction (140.6 and 141.5 mm, respectively, which is 14.7 % higher compared to the minimum mulching). The studied soil cultivation systems did not affect “1000-grain weight” but significantly affected the yield of grain from one ear (124.3 g) and the number of formed ears per one plant (1.04 pcs.). The corn yield on the fields with traditional and decompaction tillage methods was 56.9 and 55.9 c/ha, respectively; on minimum-tillage system, it decreased by 4.8 %. Protein content in grain harvested from the plots with traditional tillage practice was 11.4 %, which is higher compared to the minimum-tillage system. No significant differences were detected for crude ash and dry matter.

Effect of nitrogen-sulphur nutrition and inhibitors of nitrification on the yield and quality of maize grain