Genotype × environment interactions of potato tuber quality characteristics by AMMI and GGE biplot analysis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111750
• Publication Date: 2022-12-07T10:32:40Z
• Authors: Aurelio Scavo; Giovanni Mauromicale; Anita Ierna
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0106 biological sciences; AMMI; Solanum tuberosum, GE interaction, AMMI, GGE biplot, stability, quality; GGE biplot; GE interaction; Stability; Quality; 01 natural sciences; Solanum tuberosum

Potato is the most important non-grain crop worldwide, whose quality characteristics are always affected by genotype × environment interaction (GEI). Knowledge about the influence of GEI on potato quality could be very important to develop new or existing potato genotypes with high quality characteristics coupled with stability at varying environmental conditions. In this research, for the first time, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype (G) main effects plus genotype × environment (E) interaction (GGE) biplot analyses were used to dissect GEI in potato quality traits by evaluating six potato genotypes (Arizona, Cayenne, Generosa, Laudine, Salad Blue and Vogue) over four locations and two consecutive years (eight environments). Pooled ANOVA revealed a P <= 0.001 significance of ANOVA components for all traits under study, with G that attributed the highest variation on dry matter, citric acid, DPPH and washability, and E that contributed more on total phenolics, vitamin C, reducing sugars ad FRAP. After assessing a small but significant proportion to total variance of GEI for all qualitative traits, it was found that almost all of the variance was explained by the cumulative contribution of IPC1 and IPC2 for AMMI and by PC1 and PC2 for GGE. From AMMI and GGE biplots clearly emerged that, despite qualitative performances of genotypes fluctuated considerably across the environments, Salad Blue was the most suitable genotype for dry matter, total phenolics, vitamin C and FRAP throughout the 8 environments due to its above-average mean values and stability. On the contrary, no clear differentiations were found between environments, indicating that the choice of the "ideal" environment depended on the quality trait. Our results suggested the importance of AMMI and GGE analysis in identifying qualitatively high and stable genotypes over multi-environmental trials. This approach could be useful in providing scientific strength for the setup of potato protected geographical identifications.