GGE biplot analysis for yield performance and stability of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes under multi environmental condition

Abstract

The presence of genotype × environment interactions (GEI) remains a major issue for crop improvement. The study was conducted to identify best performing, high yielding, and stable faba bean genotypes across different growing environments. Thirteen advanced faba bean genotypes were evaluated using RCBD with four replications at six environments in Ethiopia. The results of combined analysis of variance indicated that highly significant (p < 0.01) differences observed among environments, and genotype × environment interaction, but non-significant genotypic difference for grain yield. The results revealed that faba bean genotypes performed differently in different environmental conditions, and the interaction was crossover in nature. The GGE biplot analysis showed that PC1 and PC2 accounted for 31.8 % and 22.0 % of the genotype × environment sum of squares respectively. The accessions that performed best in each environment based on the “mean vs stability”, are genotypes Gora, EH 08035-1, EH 08035-3 and EH 09031-4; however, based on the “which-won-where” polygon, G8 (EH 06007-4), G3 (EK 05037-4), G11 (EH 08035-1), G2 (EH 010010-1), and G9 (EH 09031-4) are desirable genotypes. In terms of discriminating and representativeness of the environments, Env-1, and Env-6 considered as the most superior environment, while Env-4 and Env-5 were consistently non-discriminating environments they give little information. The result gives more information on the stability and genotype × environment interactions of faba bean genotypes for future breeding programs. Thus, the selected accessions are recommended as parental lines in future breeding programs for faba bean yield improvement in different agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia.