Effect of genotype-environment interaction on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) germination, vigor index, and seed yield

Abstract

The adverse edaphoclimatic conditions in the Orinoquía region affect the soybean crop cycle, deteriorating seed quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the genotype (G),  the environment (E), and their interaction (GxE) on the yield and seed quality of six soybean varieties (Corpoica Superior 6, Orinoquía 3, Soyica P34, Corpoica Taluma 5, and Agrosavia Primavera 11 of Colombian origin and Barreira of Brazilian origin) in five environments of the Orinoquía Colombia region, two in the second half of 2020 (LIBB: La Libertad and TALB: Taluma) and three in the first half of 2021 (LIBA: La Libertad, TALA: Taluma, and LEONAS), to determine their adaptation domain. Highly significant differences (P<0.01) were observed between G, E, and GxE for germination (GER) and seed yield (SY). A similar situation was shown by the vigor index (VI), although without differences between environments. The GGE biplot for GER, and SY separated environments by year halves. Taluma during the first half was the most discriminating environment for the response variables, useful for genetic breeding programs with a seed quality approach. Only in La Libertad during the second half was GER above 80%. The most stable variety per environment was Soyica P34 in two response variables, and the best with specific adaptation were Corpoica Superior 6 and Orinoquía 3.  These last two reached higher average values in GER (69.6%; 63.1%), VI (13.3; 13.4), and SY (1473 kg ha-1; 1404 kg ha-1).