Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 8(1): 288 - 303. Published August 2008.
Genotype and genotype by environment (GGE) biplotanalysis of fresh fruit bunch yield and yield components of oil palm(Elaeis guineensis Jacq.).
Okoye M N*^, Okwuagwu C O* And Uguru M I**
*Plant Breeding Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (Nifor) P.M.B 1030 300001, Benin
City, Edo State, Nigeria; **Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka.
*Corresponding author e-mail: Maxokoye2001@yahoo.co.uk; Telephone: +234-8035522176
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The yield of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a function of the
number of bunches produced (BN) and the average weight of the bunch (SBW). The objectives of this study
were to (i) assess genotype by environment (G X E) interaction and, (ii) determine stable oil palm genotypes
using genotype and genotype by environment (GGE) biplot analysis.
Methodology and results: Fifteen oil palm genotypes were evaluated for four consecutive years (1999-2002)
in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Both genotype (G) and G X E interaction were
considered as important parameters because environment (E) accounts for about 80% of total yield
variation in multiple environment trial (MET). The GGE methodology uses a biplot to show G and G X E that
are important in genotype evaluation, which are also sources of variation in G X E interaction analysis of
multiple environment yield trials. Genotype main effect and year were highly significant (P<0.001) for all the
measured traits, G X E interaction also showed highly significant differences for SBW, BN and FFB yield.
Analysis of variance indicated that varieties De10 and Det2 were not different in BN while Det6 and Det5
were superior to other genotypes with respect to SBW and FFB yield, respectively. Principal component
analysis (PCA) of GGE biplot analysis revealed that genotypes Det2 and De10 had high yields for BN (4.4
and 4.5 bunches/palm/year), Det6 for SBW (14.5 kg/palm/year) and Det5 for FFB (51.3 kg/palm/year) in all
the four years. Results from stability analysis using GGE biplot showed that Det5 was the most stable for
BN and SBW, while Det9 and De15 were considered stable for FFB yield.
Conclusion and application of findings: Cultivation of the identified genotypes is likely to give stable
performance across years. Genotypes Det6 and Det5 were selected as ideal genotypes for SBW and FFB
yield based both on their mean performance and stability. These genotypes could be used in a breeding
program to develop new stable cultivars with high yield potential. The study environments (E99, E00, E01
and E02) were most discriminating but not representative of the test environments; and are thus useful for
culling genotypes that are below average performance. This study shows that GGE biplot analysis was
effective in oil palm hybrids yield trials for selecting cultivars that are stable, high yielding and responsive.
Key words: oil palm genotypes, genotype by environment interaction, GGE biplot, fresh fruit bunch yield,
principal component analysis.
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