Assessment of Genotype x Trait x Environment interactions of silage maize genotypes through GGE Biplot

Abstract

In yield experiments conducted at different environments, assessment of Genotype x Environment interactions for investigated traits is a quite significant issue for both agronomists and breeders. GGE biplot analysis was employed in this study to assess the Genotype x Trait, Environment x Trait and Trait Association x Environment of five different traits (silage yield {[}SY], stem diameter {[}SD], green leaf weight ratio {[}GLWR], green stem weight ratio {[}GSWR], green corn cob ratio {[}GCCR] and plant height {[}PH]) of 25 silage maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes grown in six environments. The biplot graphs created in this study to assess Genotype x Trait, Environment x Trait and Environment x Trait correlation interactions were able to explain respectively 86\%, 92\%, and 83\% of total variation of experiments. Current findings revealed that the genotype G18 (Safak), with the greatest silage yield in Genotype Trait biplot (GT biplot) also had the greatest SD; DIY14 (DIYARBAKIR-2014) with the greatest distance from the origin over Environment Trait (ET-biplot) graph was the most distinctive environment; SD with the greatest vector length was the most distinctive trait; DIY14 and DIY15 environments were the best environments for PH, GSWR, SY and SD. It was concluded that GGE biplot method with different perspectives could reliably be used in assessment of silage characteristics of maize genotypes grown in different environments.