GGE biplot vs. AMMI analysis of promising sorghum lines in the warm-temperate regions of Iran

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to increasing farmers’ attention to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions, it is necessary to introduce new, suitable sorghum cultivars. The present study aimed to evaluate the yield stability of grain sorghum genotypes via AMMI and GGE biplot analyses to identify high-yielding and best adapted genotypes for release in Iran’s warm-temperate regions. Seven promising grain sorghum lines (KGS15, KGS19, KGS23, KGS25, KGS27, KGS32, and KGS36), along with three commercial cultivars (Kimiya, Payam, and Sepideh), were studied in seven regions of Iran (Karaj, Isfahan, Gorgan, Birjand, Shiraz, Zabol, and Hamedan) during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. AMMI analysis showed that genotypes G7, G3, and G6 had the lowest AMMI stability values (ASV). GGE biplot analysis showed that genotype G6 had the highest grain yield (GY) in most environments, whereas genotype G1 was specifically adapted to the Hamedan province. According to the average-environment coordination of the GGE biplot, genotype G6 was the most desirable genotype, significantly better than the second and third best genotypes G4 and G3 (G4 was missed by AMMI). This study also indicated that the GGE biplot method was more effective than the AMMI method in analyzing genotype by environment and identifying superior genotypes. Overall, G6 can be introduced as the superior-most genotype for cultivation in Iran’s warm-temperate regions.