The Eberhart and Russel’s Bayesian method used as an instrument to select maize hybrids

Abstract

Adaptability and stability analysis methods that use a priori information allow identifying and selecting potentially productive genotypes with greater accuracy. The aim of the current study is to use the Eberhart and Russel' Bayesian method as an instrument to analyze the adaptability and stability of hybrid maize cultivars and to assess the efficiency of using the distribution of informative and non-informative priors to select cultivars. Twenty-five (25) hybrid maize cultivars were assessed in 11 environments located in the Brazilian Northeastern region, during 2012 and 2013, according to a complete randomized block design, with two repetitions. The Eberhart and Russel's methodology was performed in the GENES software, whereas the Bayesian procedure was implemented in the free software R, by using the MCMCregress function of the MCMCpack package. The adaptability and stability parameters values and the credibility intervals have shown that the Eberhart and Russel's method via Bayesian technique has shown greater stability-estimation accuracy and greater efficiency in recommending cultivars adapted to favorable and unfavorable environments. The Bayesian methods using priories informative (M1) and few informative (M2) distributions have presented the same genotype classifications in the comparison between a priori distributions; however, according to the Bayes Factor, the M1 was the most adequate distribution to help finding more reliable estimates.

Bayesian Perspective in the Selection of Bean Genotypes

“…The line BRS Esplendor showed that the estimate of stability parameter presented in the analysis using little informative priors (M3) disagreed with to those found in the analysis considering model M2. Similar results were also found by Nascimento et al (2011), Couto et al (2015) and Oliveira et al (2018).…”

Analysis of the Effect of the Interaction of Genotype and Environment on the Yield Stability of Maize Varieties; Genetic Resources for Breeding

“…Oliveira et al [30] evaluated 25 hybrid maize in 22 environments, divided between the states of Maranhão, Piauí and Sergipe, and observed two genotypes with specific adaptability to favorable environments and only four, of the 25 genotypes, with specific adaptability to unfavorable environments. The other genotypes were considered general adaptability.…”

“…Complex interactions between genotype and environment can occur, where certain combinations of genotype and environment may have synergistic or antagonistic effects that amplify or reduce plant performance. Therefore, considering and understanding the G × E interaction is crucial for the development of more effective genetic improvement strategies and the selection of varieties adapted to different environmental conditions [30].…”