Logo image
Back
Genotype×environment interaction studies highlight the role of phenology in specific adaptation of canola (Brassica napus) to contrasting Mediterranean climates
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Genotype×environment interaction studies highlight the role of phenology in specific adaptation of canola (Brassica napus) to contrasting Mediterranean climates

H. Zhang, J.D. Berger and S.P. Milroy
Field Crops Research, Vol.144, pp.77-88
2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.01.006
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

While genotype (G) × environment (E) interaction (G × E) complicates broad crop adaptation, understanding its causes facilitates breeding for specific adaptation. South-western Australia captures a broad range of Mediterranean climates, from a very warm short season with low rainfall in the north and east to a longer season with high rainfall in the southwest, and provides a unique opportunity to investigate G × E interaction. In this study, we evaluate G × E interaction for seed yield and oil content of canola genotypes with wide ranging phenology across south-western Australia. Environments were separated into year (Y) and location (L) and a factor analytic (FA) model used to partition G × E interactions into G × Y, G × L and G × Y × L across four years (2006–2009). G × E interaction contributed 34% to total variance of seed yield compared with 9% for G. An additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model was used to further evaluate the significance of G × L, and delineate mega-environments (ME) and determine the best performing cultivar in each year. AMMI identified two MEs with different seasonal climates. ME1 combines >330 mm seasonal rainfall with a cooler, longer post-anthesis growing period. ME2 is more terminally drought-prone, with higher temperatures and <300 mm rainfall, resulting in a short growing season. There were significant crossover yield responses to location changes: the medium flowering genotypes produced significantly higher yield than the early flowering genotypes in ME1 but yielded poorly in ME2, and vice versa. In contrast to yield, G effects were very strong in oil content, accounting for 53% of total variance, compared with 14% for G × Y, and negligible G × L effects. Finlay–Wilkinson regression showed little crossover interaction in oil content with E. The key outcome of this G × E interaction study is the importance of phenology to the adaptation of canola in south-western Australia. Therefore, it is suggested that breeding for specific adaptation to each mega-environment should be targeted with a breeding strategy focusing on drought and heat tolerance in ME2 and high yield potential in ME1.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger
#13 Climate Action

Source: InCites

Metrics

39 Record Views
53 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.4 Crop Science
3.4.424 Crop Yield Optimization
Web Of Science research areas
Agronomy
ESI research areas
Agricultural Sciences
Logo image