Genotype x environment interactions and optimum resource allocation for sugarcane yield trials in Swaziland

ABSTRACT

To account for genotype x environment (G x E) interactions, sugarcane varieties are tested in multi-environment trials (METs) across multiple crop-years and seasons (early vs. late) under fully irrigated conditions in Swaziland. This study aimed to quantify the main sources of variation relevant to the MET network, identify mega-environments, evaluate adaptability of imported sugarcane varieties, and optimize resource use within the testing network. Nine varieties (eight imported Mauritian and one South African variety) were tested at two sites (Mhlume – M and Simunye – S), harvested early (E) and late (L) in the season across five crop-years in replicated (8) Latin square designs. A linear mixed model analysis of cane yield (tons of cane per ha; TCH), sucrose content (SUC%), sucrose yield (tons of sugar per ha; TSH), and fiber content (FIB%) showed that variety x season interactions were highly significant (P < 0.001) and larger than variety x site interactions for most traits. Genotype + genotype x environment (GGE) biplots revealed clustering of environments into two mega-environments by season rather than by site. Two Mauritian varieties were superior in each of the early and late mega-environments. Broad-sense heritability (H²) for all traits was larger than 0.79, with the highest value observed for FIB% (0.89). Resource optimization analysis, using variance components, suggested that future testing be conducted at a single site, across two seasons, with replicate numbers >5, and harvested across approximately five crop-years. Strong variety x season interactions should be exploited more aggressively in irrigated sugarcane selection programs.

KEYWORDS:

• GGE biplot
• heritability
• mixed models
• variance components

Acknowledgments

The Swaziland Sugar Association Technical Services management is acknowledged for permitting data collected at the organizations costs to be used for this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.