R. Choukan - Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran.

Based on principal component analysis (PCA), GGE biplot analysis is an effective method to fully assess multienvironmental yield trials (METs). Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) is an alternative method for assessing phenotypic stability and adaptability. In this research, MET data of ۱۴ maize inbred lines were used to perform AMMI and GGE biplot analyses. These genotypes were evaluated under diverse climatic conditions in five Iranian locations during two cropping cycles (۲۰۰۷ and ۲۰۰۸). A genotype (inbred line) by location table was used for performing the analyses. Based on both mean grain yield and yield stability, inbred lines K۳۶۱۵/۲, K۱۹/۱, K۱۶۶B and K۱۸ proved to be superior and also had greater mean performance among the test inbred lines. Graphic analysis was used to identify the most suitable inbred lines for each test environment. Inbred lines K۳۶۱۵/۲, K۱۹/۱, K۱۶۶B, K۱۸, K۳۶۵۳/۲ and K۳۵۴۷/۵ were identified as suitable in all locations. The AMMI and GGE biplot graphics revealed three separate groups of environments, i.e., three mega-environments. Group one included three sites,Karaj, Kabootar Abad and Zarghan, while group two included only Islam Abad-e-Gharb and group three onlyMiandoab. Islam Abad Gharb and Miandoab were more discriminative for genotypes. The inbred lines that were most responsive to the environment were K۳۶۱۵/۲, K۱۶۶B, K۱۹/۱ and K۱۸; the least responsive line was K۳۵۴۷/۵.

Maize, GGE biplot, AMMI, PCA, G × E interaction