Genotype-by-environment Interaction in Musa Germplasm Revealed by Multi-site Evaluation in Sub-saharan Africa

Abstract

Two multilocational trials, one comprising 18 Musa clones in three locations and another of 20 genotypes across 11 locations, were set up in 1991 and 1992, respectively, to assess the genotype-by-environment interaction (GxE) for important traits and to select stable high-yielding and black sigatoka (BS)-resistant genotypes. Combined ANOVAs showed significant differences among environments and among genotypes for all traits. GxE affected all growth and yield parameters, except fruit girth. Host response to BS disease also showed significant GxE, but there was no cross-order season-by-year interaction. Hence, genotypic response to BS can be assessed in 1 year during the rainy season, when disease pressure is highest. Genotype-by-location effects were more important than the nonsignificant genotype-by-year effects, supporting the need for multilocational trials. Stability analysis showed that full-sib plantain hybrids (TMPx1) exhibited different host responses to BS as well as different interaction patterns, suggesting that selection for stable BS resistance is possible. The BS-resistant TMPx genotypes had higher yields than the plantain landraces, but showed differences in yield stability. TMPx 1658-4, 2796-5, 5511-2, and 6930-1 have been selected as stable high-yielding hybrids, while the initial best selections (TMPx 548-4 and 548-9) were top yielders only in good environments. [Vuylsteke, D., R. Swennen, and R. Ortiz. 1993. Registration of 14 improved tropical Musa plantain hybrids with black sigatoka resistance. HortScience 28:957–959.]