The Influence of Genotype–Environment Interaction on the Grain Yields of 10 Pigeonpea Cultivars Grown in Kenya

To study the importance of the effects of genotype–environment interactions on the yield of pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.), 10 early-maturing genotypes were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a total of seven environments spread over five regions of Kenya between 1987 and 1988. Results indicated the presence of a substantial genotype–environment interaction effect on grain yield. The observed significant genotype–environment interaction effect is discussed in relation to its importance in pigeonpea grain yield evaluation studies. It is noted that the best genotype in one environment is not always so in other environments. Results from regression analysis indicated that this method of analysis is appropriate for describing the response of pigeonpea genotypes grown in a number of locations. Analysis of variance showed significant additive and multiplicative genotype–environment interaction effects. Only the first interaction principal component axis (IPCA) was found to be important in describing the multiplicative interaction effects. The additive main effects and multiplicative effects (AMMI) model allowed the partitioning of interaction variance into agronomically important sources (genotype groups), and the specific genotype × environment patterns that are the basis of these sources of variance were examined.     

Responses of different arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) clones to varied environmental conditions

Different improved coffee arabica crosseshaving resistance to coffee berry diseaseand leaf rust, plus a standard cultivar,were grown under a range of environmentalconditions in a series of field trials inKenya. The effects of location and year ofproduction and their interactions with theclones were determined for berry yield.These data were used to estimate andcompare methods of analysis of GEI. An AMMImodel, joint regression model and ANOVAwith repeated measurements were used toinvestigate these interactions. The resultsindicated the relative effects of theclones and the environmental conditions,with Meru being the location where therewas greatest discrimination between theclones, probably because it was bettersuited for coffee. Clones,environments and joint regressions combinedaccounted for 31.20% of the interaction,leaving a residual of 68.80%. Significantresidual mean squares showed therelationship between clones andenvironments not to be strictly linear,thus indicating that regression analysisdid not always provide good estimates ofindividual clonal performance acrossenvironments. High correlations wereobtained between mean yield and regressioncoefficients and between ecovalence andmean square deviations as well as thecoefficient of determination. Resultsshowed that the improved clones surpassedthe standard cultivar both in terms ofyield and stability.Different analyses of the various aspectsof genotype response enabled the 21 clonesto be classified into different similaritygroups based on their performance andphenotypic stability as measured by variousstability parameters and the use of biplotsfrom the AMMI analysis.     

A study of the ecological variability in yield of selected clones of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) from the coffee-breeding programme in Kenya

Summary

Cherry yield of eleven elite clones of Arabica coffee was evaluated over a five-year period at three locations in a continuing study to detenriine the extent and influence of Clone X Environment interactions on coffee breeding lines developed in Kenya. Clone mean yield comparisons indicated a better performance of all the improved clones compared with the Standard. In analysis of variance (ANOVA) significant main effects and non-significant Clone X Environment interactions (P<0.05) were found. Interactions were however, further investigated using ecovalence values, the Eberhart and Russell (1966) regression model as well as the Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction effects (AMMI) model. The clones were then clustered according to their response patterns using principal components and cluster analyses to obtain a delineation of ecological districts and more accurate predictions of clone performance. The main effects for clones reflected breeding advances with the standard variety having the smallest mean. Improved materials from the hybridization scheme appeared to do better than their pure-line counterparts with clones 8,3,1 and 2 being the most advanced of the 11 clones. Similarly, the main effects for the environment reflected the overall site/year quality with Kiambu having the best production conditions particularly due to the favourable weather in 1983. This indicates that the coffee growing upper zone may be favourable for the clones especially when they are raised by top-working old coffee. Makuyu environments had the least interaction effects.     

Spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) and saltbush (Atriplex halimus L.) as feed supplements for fattening Awassi male lambs: effect on digestibility,water consumption,blood metabolites,and growth performance

The effect of replacing 13.6% and 20.3% of a total ration of fattening Awassi lambs by two combinations of fresh saltbush (Atriplex halimus) and fresh spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes at a ratio of 1.9:1 (TRT1) and 1.7:1 (TRT2) on water intake, digestibility, blood metabolites, and fattening performance was evaluated. Thirty-six lambs with average initial live weight 34.5?±?4.18 kg were randomly assigned to three diets (control, TRT1, and TRT2). The control received a diet containing 166 g/kg barley straw and 834 g/kg of commercial concentrate mixture; TRT1 comprised 126 g barley straw, 739 g/kg concentrate mixture, 47 g/kg spineless cactus, and 89 g saltbush; TRT2 comprised 67 g/kg barley straw, 704 g/kg commercial concentrate mixture, 86 g/kg spineless cactus, and 144 g saltbush. A growth trial of 100 days (10 days of adaptation and 90 days of collection) followed by a metabolism trial of 17 days (10 days of adaptation and 7 days of a total feces and urine collection) was carried out. Daily dry matter intake, digestibility of crude protein, ether extract and nutrient detergent fiber, nitrogen balance, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and blood metabolites were not significantly affected by the treatment. Water consumption in TRT2 was significantly 16% less compared with the control. A combination of saltbush and spineless cactus at a ratio of 1.7:1 (TRT2) replaced 60% of barley straw and 16% of concentrate mixture without adverse effects on health and growth performance of Awassi male lambs. This represents a potential reduction in feed costs for smallholder farmers.