GENOTYPE × ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN SMOOTH BROMEGRASS. I. YIELD

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Abstract
Twenty-one progenies and the parents of a 7 .times. 7 half diallel cross of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) were evaluated at 4 locations in Alberta [Canada] in each of 2 yr, for genetic variation and genetic by environment interactions in the expression of their yield potentials. Years, locations and their interactions were highly significant in the combined analysis of variance. Combining ability analysis revealed that general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were both important in the expression of yield, including spring, fall and annual yield, whereas GCA was more important than SCA for yield per area. Although the genotype .times. environment interactions were all highly significant, variation accounted for by combining ability effects was generally higher than the interaction effects of GCA and SCA, respectively, with environments. High average GCA effects for spring, fall and annual yield were demonstrated for the clones UA5, UA9 and B42. These together with the high average SCA effects suggested that the 3 clones could be included in a synthetic to develop high yielding cultivars. Recurrent selections involving multi-location and multi-year testing seem necessary in breeding for high yielding bromegrass cultivars in Alberta.