Use of gross income as a measure of productivity in rice breeding

Abstract

Rice breeders consider grain yield and milled rice percentages in developing cultivars, but usually do not consider gross income. This study’s objectives were to identify rice genotypes that produced high and stable expected gross incomes using genotype plus genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis. Uniform Regional Rice Nursery data on 47 long-grain genotypes grown at five locations (AR, LA, MO, MS, and TX) during 2001 to 2003 were analyzed. Gross income of each genotype was estimated based on grain yield, milled rice percentages, market prices, and direct and counter-cyclical payments. Based on GGE biplot analysis, the genotypes with the highest yield and highest gross income for the main crop were different in 12 out of 13 environments. RU0103184, Francis, and RU0003178 were the genotypes with the highest gross income in six, four, and three environments, respectively. Rice breeders should consider gross income as a selection criterion in the release of new cultivars. Key words: Rice, GGE, GE, breeding, gross income