The influences of genotype, environment, and genotype×environment interaction on wheat quality

Abstract

Knowledge of the relative contributions of genotype (G), environment (E), and genotype and environment interaction (G × E) effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) quality leads to more effective selection in breeding programs and segregation of more uniform parcels of grain better suited to the needs of customers. Their effects on wheat quality were reviewed using papers obtained from 4 major international databases. The literature is dominated by research from North America, with lesser contributions from Europe, Australia, and the rest of the world. Use of analysis of variance to partition sources of variation due to G, E, and G × E was the most common approach but, more recently, residual maximum likelihood methods that can accommodate large, but unbalanced, datasets have been used. In North America and Europe, the relative contributions of G, E, and G × E varied across studies, but traits associated with protein content were more influenced by E and G × E than those associated with protein quality, dough rheology and starch characteristics, where G effects were more important. Variation in the relative contributions of G, E, and G × E was highly dependent on the G and E sampled. The Australian studies were characterised by a relative lack of G × E, with G and E rankings being similar across the country for the protein quality, dough rheology, and starch quality traits examined in detail. This suggests that, in Australia, more efficient testing of potential cultivars will be possible for these traits, especially when the underlying variation at the gene level is known, and that efficiencies in the design and conduct of trial systems and quality evaluations could be achieved by testing samples from targetted environments without affecting genetic gain and overall crop quality.

Effect of Genotype, Environment and Their Interaction on Quality Parameters of Wheat Breeding Lines of Diverse Grain Hardness

“…However, based on such trials, breeders have chosen the best lines to develop as cultivars. Williams et al (2008) showed that experiments assessing wheat quality characteristics were most often conducted in two years (above 35%) or in one year (above 15%); multi-year trials are rare because they are costly and time-consuming.…”

A Brief Review of a Nearly Half a Century Wheat Quality Breeding in Bulgaria

“…The variation of the quality indices when growing each individual variety under different environments is always helpful both for the distribution of the new varieties and for their improvement in breeding programs (Gomez-Becera et al, 2010). The data on the variation of winter wheat quality is contradictable with regard to the level of genotype effect (Gomez-Beccera et al, 2010;Williams et al, 2008). In breeding there is always the question whether the high quality of a given variety under favorable environments is a prerequisite for the realization of its high-quality potential under unfavorable environments, too, or is it and impediment for its stability (Hristov et al, 2010;Tsenov et al, 2004).…”

“…The exception was wet gluten content, which was affected most by the interaction location x year. Hristov et al (2010), Mladenov et al (2001), Williams et al (2008) have found out that in spite of the significant effect of the interaction genotype x environment on the expression of the quality parameters of wheat, this effect was less significant than the independent influences of the genotype and the location. Table 4.…”

“…It is difficult in breeding for wheat quality to develop varieties with high quality indices, which remain stable under various growing conditions (Atanasova et al, 2008;Johansson et al, 2001;Williams et al, 2008). According to Finlay & Wilkinson (1963), Sudaric et al (2006) genotypes with coefficient of regression (b i ) under 0.7 were considered unresponsive to changeable environments; with b i between 0.7 and 1.3 had average stability; and >1.3 were considered responsive to good environments.…”

“…One of the problems of breeding for quality is not only achieving a high level of the indices in the new varieties, but also achieving a stable expression of these indices in different years and environments (Atanasova et al, 2008;Johansson et al, 2001;Williams et al, 2008). It is valuable for breeding to determine the nature and direction of the effects of different genetic and environmental factors on the specific quality indices (Hristov et al, 2010;Panozzo & Eagles, 2000;Tsenov et al, 2004), and to study the performance of the varieties under changeable growing conditions.…”