Genotype-by-environment interaction and stability analysis of soybean genotypes for yield and yield components across two locations in Nigeria

Abstract

A multilocational evaluation of 20 soybean genotypes was conducted in two distinct locations (Nsukka in Derived Savanna agro-ecology and Jalingo in Northern Guinea Savanna) of Nigeria in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons. The experiments were laid out in an Alpha lattice design and replicated three times in each location. The main objective of the research was to determine the genotype-by-environment interaction (G x E) for specific traits and yield stability. The results revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes and locations for all the traits except for seed yield. Genotype x environmental interaction was not significant for most of the traits except days to 50% flowering indicating relative consistency in time of flowering among the genotypes across the locations and year. The genotype, Ashuku produced the highest yield in the two locations. However, the most stable genotypes across the locations were Dadinkowa and Vom while the ideal environments were Jalingo 2016 (ENV2) and Nsukka 2016 (ENV4) which produced 14.0g and14.5g, respectively. Similarly, Akwanga was discriminated as the overall best genotype across the two locations.