Historical Multi Agro-climatic Phenotypic Data Analysis Using GGE Bi-plot to Evaluate Genotype Environment Interaction (GEI) in the Pigeonpea Hybrids

Abstract

Cultivar evaluation and mega-environment identification are the most imperative objective of multi-environment trials (MET). The objective of this study was to explore the effect of genotype and genotype x environment interaction on the different phenotypic traits of 78 historical pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L) hybrids via GGE (genotype plus genotype x environment) bi-plot methodology. Experiment was conducted over 35 different agro- climatic regions in the rainy seasons of 2004-2005 to 2012-2013. In this experiment, we identify superior pigeonpea hybrid combinations for the day of 50% flowering, day of 75% maturity, plant height (CM), 100 seed weight (gm) and grain yield (kg/ha). Hence, in this GGE bi-plot the majority of the testing locations were highly correlated with ‘which-won-where’ approach. The GGE bi-plot clearly suggests necessary effort to identify agro-climate specific hybrids over multi-year and environment for the release of superior pigeonpea hybrid combinations. On the other hand, ICPH 3959 and ICPH 3762 was the best representative of the overall environments and the most powerful to discriminate hybrids. The results of this study indicate the possibility of improving progress from selections under diverse conditions by applying GGL (genotype plus genotype x location) bi-plot methodology