EVALUATION OF WHEAT GENOTYPES: GENOTYPE × ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION AND GGE BIPLOT ANALYSIS

This research was carried out to evaluate the grain yield, yield traits and some quality characteristics of 18 bread wheat genotypes in seven different locations in Thrace region using principal component analysis and genotype + genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis to determine the genotypes with high yield and desired quality characteristics during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 cropping years. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Genotype, environment and genotype × environment interactions were found statistically significant at p≤0.01 level for all investigated traits. Mean values of the genotypes varied between 4841-6807 kg ha-1 for grain yield, 118.6-131.6 days for heading date, 80.4-104.7 cm for plant height, 7.7-10.4 cm for spike length, 16.4-20.3 for number of spikelets per spike, 16.4-20.3 number of grains per spike, 1.49-2.41 g grain weight per spike, 72-77.8 kg hl-1 for test weight and 36.6-45.3 g for thousand kernel weight. Principal component biplot analyzes explained the relationships between the investigated traits and genotypes at a ratio of 60.9%. It was observed that there was a positive and significant relationship between grain yield and test weight, a negative relationship with grain yield and spike length and grain weight per spike. GGE biplot analysis explained 82.65% of the relationship of genotype + genotype x environment for grain yield. According to the GGE biplot analysis two mega environments were determined and Lucilla and Glosa genotypes took place in the biggest mega environment consisted of four environments as superior genotypes.