YIELD GRAIN STABILITY IN MALTING BARLEY IN EL BAJIO, MEXICO

Abstract

Genotype x environment interaction (G x A) is associated with the differential performance of genotypes under different development conditions and testing years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotype x environment interaction and grain yield stability in ten malting barley genotypes by using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction method (AMMI).
The study was conducted in El Bajio (Mexico), which is located in the Central West region and corresponds to the country’s most productive area. The genotypes were sown in five different sowing dates and two growing cycles: November 15 (FS1) and 30 (FS2), December 15 (FS3) and 30 (FS4) and January 15 (FS5), under irrigation in autumn-winter 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 cycles, generating ten test environments. The results obtained with the AMMI model showed significant differences for environments, genotypes and G x A interactions, which were consistent with those obtained in the ANOVA. This confirms that there is a strong variation in environmental conditions at different planting dates and years of testing. ‘Esmeralda’ and ‘Adabella’ interacted little with the environment, but their performance was lower than the general average. Genotype M-174 had little interaction with the environment and its yield was higher than the general average while the other genotypes presented larger interactions with the environment. The genotypes selected for irrigation conditions showed higher yield potential in the November 15 and 30 and December 15 planting dates. Moreover, the genotypes selected for conditions of dry land showed better response to environmental variation, but their performance was lower than the general average.