GGE Biplot Analysis of Yield Stability in Multi-environment Trials of Lentil Genotypes under Rainfed Condition

Abstract

This investigation was done to study GE interaction over twelve environments for seed yield in 18 genetically diverse genotypes. Grain yield performances were evaluated for three years at four locations in Iran using a randomized complete block design. The first two principal components (IPC1 and IPC2) were used to create a two-dimensional GGE biplot that accounted percentages of 49% and 20% respectively of sums of squares of the GE interaction. The combined analysis of variance indicated that year and location were the most important sources affecting yield variation and these factors accounted for percentages of 50.0% and 33.3% respectively of total G+E+GE variation. The GGE biplot suggested the existence of three lentil mega-environments with wining genotypes G1, G11 and G14. According to the ideal-genotype biplot, genotype G1 was the better genotype demonstrating high mean yield and high stability of performance across test locations. The average tester coordinate view indicated that genotype G1 had the highest average yield, and genotypes G1 and G12 recorded the best stability. The study revealed that a GGE biplot graphically displays interrelationships between test locations as well as genotypes and facilitates visual comparisons.