Genotype by Environment Interaction Effects on the Crop of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Using Multivariate Analysis

Evaluation of genotypes under Egyptian desert conditions comes in the first order for the Plant Breeding and Conservation Program of the Desert Research Center (DRC). The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of the genotype by environment interaction of sugar beet across various locations using multivariate models. Data for studied traits of sugar beet were obtained from experiments at three regions: Saint Catherine, South Sinai Governorate (E1); Baloza station, North Sinai Governorate (E2); and East El- Qantra station, El-Ismailia Governorate (E3) in Egypt. All examined traits were significantly impacted (p <0.05 or 0.01) by environment (E), genotypes (G), and their interaction (GEI) using the AMMI model, with the exception of root length/plant by the environments as well as leaves weight/plant and total soluble solids percentage % traits by the genotypes. GEI was partitioned into two principal components (PCs), which were significant for all studied traits (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). The highest variability from the total variance was recorded by environmental influences for leaves weight/plant and total soluble solids percentage % traits, as well as by genotype effects for the other studied traits. The environmental index showed that some environments were favorable and some environments were unfavorable for the two traits. The highest root weight/plant and most studied traits were noticed in the E2 environment. Based on the GGE model for root weight/plant, the test environments E1 and E2 are more representative and have the greatest ability to discriminate genotypes, thus favoring the selection of superior genotypes. The genotypes G2, G5, and G6 perform best in the E1 and E2 environments as well as are the most productive and stable compared with the other genotypes. According to PCA and cluster analysis, the genotypes G5 and G6 showed the best performance in response to environments and positive association with root weight/plant and most studied traits. Based on the results of statistical methods used in this study, G5 and G6 genotypes should be used in future sugar beet breeding in an effort to improve productivity and sustainable production of sugar beet in Egypt.