Genotype × environment interactions for two-row barley grain yield and implications for selection of genotypes

Abstract

The response of barley grain yield to Canadian prairie environments was studied to evaluate genotype × environment interactions with respect to barley genotype selection. Information from nine test sites and 11 entries over two 3-yr spans was used. Genotype × location × year interactions from analysis of variance were significant for grain yield in both data sets. The nature of these interactions was studied by considering the genotype mean performance, superiority and stability measures for each location, and joint regression and cluster analyses within each year. No single genotype was superior over all locations, and the groupings of genotypes for similarity of response at locations were not consistent for year. This indicated that genotypes selected on the basis of main effect means may not be those selected from a detailed consideration of the GE interaction structure. In the presence of sufficient genetic variability, examination of mean yield in conjunction with between-year variance at each location provides vital information on adaptation at specific locations, and is an appropriate selection tool for genotype registration and recommendation. Consideration of GE interaction, using joint regression and clustering, may indicate genotypes equivalent or marginally superior to the check. Key words: Barley, Hordeum vulgare L., genotype-environment interaction, grain yield