GGE Biplot Analysis of Genotype by Environment Interaction in Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genotypes in Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Ten field pea genotypes were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications for three consecutive years (2010-2012) main cropping seasons at four locations in each year. The objectives were to determine magnitude of genotype by environment interaction and to identify stable field pea genotype with high grain yield to be released as a cultivar to producer for Northwestern Ethiopia. The GGE [genotype main effect (G) and genotype by environment interaction (GE)] biplot graphical tool was used to analyze yield data. The combined analysis of variance revealed a significant difference (P<0.01) among genotypes, environments and genotype-by-environment interaction for grain yield. The average environment coordinate biplot revealed that EH99005-7 (G2) was the most stable and the highest yielding genotype. Polygon view of GGE-biplot showed the presence of three mega-environments. The first section includes the test environments E1 (Adet 2010), E3 (Debretabor 2010), E5 (Adet 2011), E6 (Motta 2011), E7 (Debretabor 2011), E8 (Dabat 2011), E9 (Adet 2012) and E12 (Dabat 2012) which had the variety G1 (EH99009-1) as the winner; the second section contains the environments E4 (Dabat 2010), E10 (Motta 2012) and E11 (Debretabor 2012) with G2 as the best grain yielder and the third section contains the E2 (Motta 2010) with G4 (Tegegnech X EH90026-1-3-1) as the best grain yielder. The comparison GGE- biplot of field pea genotypes with the ideal genotype showed that G2 was the closest genotype for the ideal cultivar. Among the twelve environments, E2, E6 and E10 were more discriminating and E3, E9 and E12 were less discriminating. Genotype EH99005-7 was the most stable and the highest yielding genotype. As a result it is released officially for Northwestern Ethiopia. Therefore, it is recommended to use genotype EH99005-7 for wider cultivation in Northwestern Ethiopia and similar areas.