Influence of environmental productivity levels and yield stability on selection strategies in soybean

Summary

Yield data were collected for soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) lines in maturity groups III and IV in 14 environments from 1985 to 1989. The lines in each maturity group were subdivided into three different groups based on the mean yield over all environments, and the genotype × environment interactions were studied for each group. Yield stability of the lines was determined. Effectiveness of selection based on different types of environments was examined.

Productivity level of the environment did not influence the relative ranking of the lines. Significant rank correlations occurred between mean yields in most environments and the overall mean yield, but few similarities occurred in the line rankings among individual environments. High-yielding lines contributed a significantly smaller proportion to the genotype × environment interaction than medium- and low-yielding lines.

A small proportion of the lines were below or above average stability. Significant correlations occurred among stability, overall mean yield, and mean yield in high- and low-yielding environments. However, few significant correlations occurred between individual environment yields and stability in high- or low-yielding environments. Maturity groups differed in yield and stability relationships. Stability in high- and low-yielding environments did not adequately predict stability for each other.