Location Contributions Determined via GGE Biplot Analysis of Multienvironment Sugarcane Genotype‐Performance Trials

Abstract

Selection for productive sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) cultivars in Florida has been more successful for organic than for sand soils. The objectives of this study were to assess the contributions of a sand‐soil location to the final stage of multienvironment testing of sugarcane genotypes in Florida, and to identify locations with organic soils that, if replaced with a sand‐soil location, would be least likely to compromise superior cultivar selection for organic soils in Florida. Sixteen genotypes were harvested in two or three crop cycles from 2002 to 2005 at nine locations. Traits analyzed were cane and sucrose yields (Mg ha−1) and theoretical recoverable sucrose (TRS) (g kg−1). The sand‐soil location, Lykes, was generally neither highly representative of locations nor highly discriminating of genotypes. Results revealed the desirability of replacing an organic‐soil location with a sand‐soil location in the final testing stage of this sugarcane breeding and selection program. Caution must be exercised, however, to ensure that such action would not compromise genotype discrimination for TRS and sucrose yield. Ability to identify productive cultivars on organic soils by the Florida sugarcane selection program would be least compromised by replacing either Osceola or Knight with a sand‐soil location.