Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Crop and Pasture Science Crop and Pasture Science Society
Plant sciences, sustainable farming systems and food quality
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > CP > AR05418
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 58(4)

Approaches to rationalising selection of test environments for on-farm lentil variety trials in Mediterranean rainfed cropping systems

A. Sarker A C , M. Singh A , F. El-Ashkar B , W. Erskine A and E. De-Pauw A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), PO Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria.

B General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Douma, Syria.

C Corresponding author. Email: A.Sarker@cgiar.org

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58(4) 335-341 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05418
Submitted: 27 November 2005  Accepted: 3 November 2006   Published: 12 April 2007

Abstract

This study focused on various approaches to rationalising the selection of test environments using on-farm trial data from 5 lentil (Lens culiniaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) genotypes. It was conducted over 3 years in 30 environments across 16 locations in Syria. There was maximum discrimination in the ratio of between-cluster to within-cluster variances, based on genotype yield responses to the environments. Four clusters represented the test locations, reflecting a gradient in the levels of yield and seasonal rainfall. We observed significant genotypic differences and genotype × environment interactions. Genotype × cluster interaction accounted for a substantial portion of the genotype × environment interaction. This supported a reduction in the number of test locations to evaluate genotype and environment interaction. Temporal interactions were either low or insignificant. The improved lines produced stable and significantly higher yields than the local cultivar. The structure of the clusters formed indicated the presence of research stations in each cluster. We recommend that locations for future on-farm testing should include one research location and a farmer field in each cluster (or the mega-zone) so formed. Climatic variables or geographical nearness cannot replace the role of genotype response when rationalising test locations.

Additional keywords: location, clustering, yield.


Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank anonymous reviewers for their critical comments and suggestions, which improved the manuscript substantially. Authors also thank Dr S. Ceccarelli and Dr A. Osman of ICARDA, and Mr James Falaiye, ICARDA, for reviewing and editing an earlier version of the manuscript, and Mrs Wafa Al-Jumma for providing the GIS information.


References


Baurlina H (1930) Lentils of the U.S.S.R. and other countries. Bulletin of Applied Genetics and Plant Breeding (Leningrad) 40(Suppl.), 1–319. open url image1

Bhatty RS (1988) Composition and quality of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.): a review. Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology 21, 144–160. open url image1

Brinkman R (1987) Agro-ecological characterization, classification and mapping. Different approaches by the International Agricultural Research Center. In ‘Agricultural environments: characterization, classification and mapping’. (Ed. AH Bunting) pp. 31–42. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

Ceccarelli S (1989) Wide adaptation: how wide? Euphytica 40, 197–205. open url image1

Ceccarelli S, Grando S, Singh M, Michael M, Shikho A, Al Issa M, Al Saleh A, Kaleonjy G, Al Ghanem SM, Al Hasan AL, Dalla H, Basha S, Basha T (2003) A methodological study on participatory barley breeding. II. Response to selection. Euphytica 133, 185–200.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Ceccarelli S, Grando S, Tutwiler R, Baha J, Martini AM, Salahieh H, Goodchild A, Michael M (2000) A methodological study on participatory barley breeding. I. Selection phase. Euphytica 111, 91–104.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cochran WG , Cox GM (1957) ‘Experimental designs.’ 2nd edn (John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New York)

Cubero JI (1981) Origin, taxonomy and domestication. In ‘Lentils’. (Eds C Webb, G Hawtin) pp. 15–38. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

DeLacy IH , Basford KE , Cooper M , Bull JK , McLaren CG (1996a) Analysis of multi-environment trials—an historic perspective. In ‘Plant adaptation and crop improvement’. (Eds M Cooper, GL Hammer) pp. 39–124. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

DeLacy IH , Basford KE , Cooper M , Fox PN (1996b) Retrospective analysis of historical data sets from multi-environment trials—theoretical development. In ‘Plant adaptation and crop improvement’. (Eds M Cooper, GL Hammer) pp. 243–267. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

DeLacy IH , Ratnasiri WGA , Mirzawan PDN (1996c) Retrospective analysis of historical data sets from multi-environment trials—case studies. In ‘Plant adaptation and crop improvement’. (Eds M Cooper, GL Hammer) pp. 269–290. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)

Erskine W (1983) The relationship between the yield of seed and straw in lentils. Field Crops Research 7, 115–121.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Erskine W , Nordblom TL , Cocks PS , Pala M , Thomson EF (1990) The use of on-farm research as a method of extending legume production in Mediterranean farming systems. In ‘The role of legumes in the farming systems of the Mediterranean areas’. (Eds AE Osman, MH Ibrahim, MA Jones) pp. 273–282. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, Boston, London)

Finlay KW, Wilkinson GN (1963) Analysis of adaptation in a plant breeding programme. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 14, 742–754.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Gordan AD (1981) ‘Classification.’ (Chapman and Hall: London)

Gower JC , Hand DJ (1996) ‘Biplots.’ (Chapman and Hall: London)

Hartigan JA (1975) ‘Clustering algorithm.’ (John Wiley and Sons Inc.: New York)

Hawtin L , Sears L (1993) ‘Legume cookbook: cooking with chickpeas, faba beans and lentils.’ (ICARDA: Aleppo, Syria)

ICARDA (1995) ‘Annual report for 1994 of the germplasm program: legumes.’ (ICARDA: Aleppo, Syria)

Jones JW , Mishoe JW , Boote KJ (1984) SOYGRO: Soyabean crop growth model. In ‘Proceedings of the International Symposium on Minimum Data Sets for Agrotechnology Transfer’. pp. 21–26. (ICRISAT Center: Patancheru, AP, India)

Jones MJ, Singh M (2000) Long-term yield patterns in barley-based cropping systems in Northern Syria. 1. Comparisons of rotations. Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 135, 223–236.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Lin CS, Binns MR, Lefkovitch LP (1986) Stability analysis: where do we stand? Crop Science 26, 894–900. open url image1

Nix HA (1984) Minimum data sets for agrotechnology transfer. In ‘Proceedings of the International Symposium on Minimum Data Sets for Agrotechnology Transfer’. pp. 181–188. (ICRISAT Center: Patancheru, AP, India)

Patterson HD, Silvey V (1980) Statutory and recommended list trials of crop varieties in the United Kingdom. Journal of Royal Statistical Society (A) 143, 219–252. open url image1

Payne RW (2000) ‘The guide to GenStat. Part 2: statistics.’ (Lawes Agricultural Trust, Rothamsted Experimental Station: Farnham Royal, UK)

Savage GP (1988) The composition and nutritive value of lentils (Lens culinaris). Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews [Series A] 58, 320–343. open url image1

Singh M, Cecarelli S (1995) Estimation of heritability using variety trials data from incomplete blocks. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 90, 142–145. open url image1

Westcott B (1986) Some methods of analyzing genotype-environment interaction. Heredity 56, 243–253. open url image1

Witcombe JR, Petre R, Jones S, Joshi A (1999) Farmer participatory crop improvement. IV. The spread and impact of a rice variety identified by participatory varietal selection. Experimental Agriculture 35, 471–487.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1