An application of multivariate analysis to selection for quality characters in wheat

Abstract

A set of 12 genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in four different environments involving sites and years. Multivariate analysis according to the D² technique was performed on six quality characters measured on material harvested from each environment and on the data pooled over four environments. The analysis offered meaningful grouping criteria with regard to quality performance. The clustering pattern was stable in different environments. This environmental stability was found to be independent of the stability of six individual characters. The application of multivariate analysis to selection for quality characters in a wheat breeding program is discussed.