AMMI analysis of genotype by environment interaction across India and Australia reveals specific adaptation in dryland chickpea
by
Jens Berger
Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, University of Western
Coauthors: Neil C. Turner (CSIRO, Floreat, Western Australia), Kadambot Siddique (CLIMA,University of Western Australia)

Chickpea is the 3rd largest legume crop globally, and is predominantly grown in the winter dry season under stored soil moisture conditions in subtropical agro-ecosystems (such as the Indian subcontinent), and under autumn- or spring-sowing in mediterranean-type climates elsewhere. In both types of environment water shortages can occur at any stage, but the likelihood of terminal drought predominates. This paper describes the outcomes of an extensive genotype by environment (G x E) study based on 41 putatively drought tolerant accessions evaluated over 19 site/year combinations across the chickpea-growing areas of both India and Australia.

AMMI (additive main effects multiplicative interaction) analysis uncovered clusters of specifically adapted genotypes in both countries, and the nature of this adaptation was explained in terms of other plant attributes such as phenology and fecundity. Under Indian conditions, latitude, and its attendant effect on season length, had a large effect on site productivity. Consequently, much of the yield-interaction behaviour can be explained by the phenological dynamics of the genotypes. Australian GxE interaction patterns were much more difficult to interpret, reflecting the complexity of the agro-ecosystem in which autumn-sown chickpea is grown in this country, where climates range from predominantly mediterranean in Western Australia to summer-dominated rainfall in northern New South Wales, and southern Queensland. As a consequence of this complexity, it is important for Australian breeders to evaluate material on a repeated, regional basis and perform longer term analyses to reveal regional trends.

Date received: November 1, 2002

Copyright © 2002 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cajn-59.