S.H. KHAN, M. ASLAM, A. BIBI, and H.Z. KHAN
Citation: Khan SH, Aslam M, Bibi A, Khan HZ (2023). GGE biplot analysis for zinc quality and yield stability of exotic maize hybrids. SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 55(1): 268-278. http://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2023.55.1.25.
Zinc deficiency is one of the major causes of malnutrition in the communities due to the consumption of zinc-deficient staple food. With accessibility and affordability, biofortification is an agricultural intervention beneficial for all the stakeholders involved as any actor. A total of 16 exotic zinc biofortified maize hybrids developed at different maize research stations of CIMMYT got introduced and evaluated across three separate locations in major maize growing areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), i.e., Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Nowshera. The decision to introduce exotic zinc-enriched maize germplasm in Pakistan, in collaboration with CIMMYT, Mexico, came from the findings of a related research work—evaluation of diverse indigenous maize germplasm; however, none of the entry qualified for suggested biofortification standard, i.e., 33 mg/kg zinc. Introducing exotic material depends upon its yield stability in the new environment. Therefore, stability analysis is mandatory. Using genotype and genotype into environment (GGE) biplot analysis found the GEI (genotype × environment interaction). Exotic hybrids G16, G4, and G1 performed superior and stable in test environments for studied traits, especially for average grain yield per plant and grain zinc content. These three hybrids gained strong\ recommendations for introduction in Pakistan.
Keywords: Biofortification, stability analysis, GGE biplot, HarvestPlus
Key findings: All tested environments differently influenced NGPR, ASI, and GY forming three mega-environments. Exotic zinc biofortified hybrids G16, G4, and G1 were stable and best performing for studied traits, especially average grain yield per plant and grain zinc content across locations. Abbreviations: PH: plant height (cm), EH: ear height (cm), DT: days to tasseling, DS: days to silking, ASI: anthesis silking interval, EL: Ear length (cm), NRPC: number of rows per cob, NGPR: number of grains per rows, GY: average grain yield per plant (g), TGW: thousand grain weight (g), Zn: grain zinc content (mg/kg), and FW: Field weight (g). PC= Principal Component, ZmZIP = Zea mays Zinc regulated transporter, iron regulated transporter-like protein, ZmNAS5 = Zea mays Nicotianamine Synthase, and CIMMYT: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
SABRAO Journal of Breeding and Genetics
55 (1) 268-278, 2023
http://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2023.55.1.25
http://sabraojournal.org/
pISSN 1029-7073; eISSN 2224-8978
Date published: February 2023
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