Stability analysis of pure lines and a multiline of soybean in different locations

Abstract To compare agronomic performance and phenotypic stability among individual soybean lines and a multiline, eight cultivars and a mixture of them were evaluated in six environments in the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 crop seasons. At maturity, grain yield (bg ha-1), lodging score, plant height (cm), and first pod height (cm) were evaluated. In the 2015/2016 season, the grain oil and protein content were also evaluated. The GxE interaction was determined by the ecovalence method. The cultivar V-TOP RR had the highest yield, but it was also the highest contributor to the GxE interaction, while the multiline was one of the most stable. The average yield of the multiline did not differ from the average yield of the lines, i.e., the multiline was stable and high yielding. For the other traits, there were no differences between the averages of lines and the multiline by the confidence interval. The mixture of lines is an efficient strategy to increase phenotypic stability in soybean.