Genotype by environment interactions of grain yield performance and lodging incidence in advance breeding lines of rice across environments in Guyana

Abstract

Fifteen advanced rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding lines along with three check varieties were assessed for lodging incidence and grain yield stability under six environments in Guyana. The trials were conducted in the spring and autumn seasons of 2018. A RCBD with three replication was employed. Descriptive statistics was used to look at the lodging incidence and AMMI & GGE analysis was utilized to study the genotype and environment (G x E) interactions. All genotypes (except G15-11, FG15-01, and check GRDB 10) recorded mean lodging incidence of less than 5 percent. The average grain yield of the 18 genotypes ranged from 5504.44 to 7499.21 Kg/ha. The biplot results showed genotype FG12-259 demonstrated consistently high stable grain yield performance followed by FG12-49, FG12-23, FG14-43, G13-126, G15-11, G14-10 and G16-104. Likewise, AMMI analysis found the environment at Rice Research Station, Burma, Region # 5, Spring crop, 2018 (E2) and Anna Regina, Region # 2, Autumn crop, 2018 (E4) to be the most representative environment with smaller average - environment axis (AEA) angle and closeness to the ideal test environment. Also, E4 followed by Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Region # 6, Autumn crop, 2018 (E6) recorded low IPCA1 scores and showed small interactions. The what-won-where biplot pattern suggested the target environment consisted of three mega-environments since four environment falls in one sector and one each in another two sectors. The three check cultivars GRDB 10 GRDB 12 and GRDB14 also expressed a similar higher level of stable grain yields over all the test environments. Based on the consistently high and stable grain yield performance, along with other superior grain qualities and plant characteristics the genotypes viz. FG12-259 and FG12-49 were selected, developed, and released as commercial rice varieties called ‘GRDB 16’ and ‘GRDB 15’, respectively in Guyana for wider cultivation by the farmers.