Genotype x Environment Interaction Analysis of Tef Grown in Southern Ethiopia Using Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction Model

Abstract

Twenty-two tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] genotypes were evaluated for their grain yield performances at four locations namely Areka, Humbo, Hossana and Alaba  in 2002/03. The objectives were to estimate genotype x environment interaction, to identify stable tef genotypes, and to assess the interaction patterns of the testing locations. Significant (p<0.05) differences for grain yield among genotypes were observed at each location; across locations, the effects of location, genotype and G x E were significant (p<0.05). AMMI partitioned genotype x environment variance into four Interaction Principal Component Axes (IPCAs), but significant was (p<0.05) only the first IPCA that captured 49% of the total G x E variance. The study revealed that the released variety DZ-Cr-255 was highly stable and better yielding variety across the locations. Areka and Hossana showed close IPCA1 scores of similar sign, and coupled with their higher location mean yields, may represent relatively better testing environments.

Keywords: genotype x environment interaction, AMMI model, stability, variety