Yield Adaptability and Stability in Field Pea Genotypes Using AMMI, GGE, and GYT Biplot Analyses

Abstract

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a vital leguminous crop farmed worldwide. Pea plays an essential role in China’s crop rotation system, but the major restrictions to its cultivation are stability and low yield. Breeding for promising cultivars with a significantly high yield will impact the sustainability of pea production. Additionally, diverse environment trials are crucial in determining the best genotype. The new cultivar “Yunwan 52” was developed by hybridization and subsequently evaluated through yield trials among six pea genotypes across 14 environments during the 2016–2018 growing seasons. The results showed that the average yield of “Yunwan 52” for all tested environments was 2.64 t ha−1 compared to the control cultivar (Yunwan 18, 1.83 t ha−1). Analysis of AMMI variance showed significant differences (p < 0.01) between genotypes, environments, and their interaction. Based on the GGE biplot, some genotypes possessed wide and narrow adaptability to environments, such as Yunwan 52 was considered the most stable and ideal gen-otype across all tested environments. GYT biplot analysis also revealed that this realized cultivar was a superior and stable genotype that can be identified visually by combining all characters in breeding programs. Yunwan 52 distinguishes with purple blossoms and seed coat peas. It is possible to infer that the newly released cultivar “Yunwan 52” has outstanding yield performance and wide adaptability to multiple environmental conditions (resilience to abiotic stress). It will contribute to developing nutritional pea genotypes and increase pea production in irrigated areas.