A maximin–minimax approach for classifying soybean genotypes for drought tolerance based on yield potential and loss

Screening for drought in soybean is often a bottleneck in plant breeding programmes. Sixteen genotypes were evaluated for drought tolerance during 2012, 2013 and 2014. The experiment was conducted in a split‐plot design, and the main plots consisted of irrigated and water stress treatments, and subplots consisted of 16 genotypes. The average seed yield was highest in 2012 (1708 kg/ha), followed by 2014 (1364 kg/ha) while very low yields (958 kg/ha) were observed during 2013. The per cent reduction in average soybean yield under water stress conditions was maximum (43%) during 2014 followed by 2012 (40%) and 2013 (31%), respectively. The average yields of soybean genotypes also differed significantly, which ranged from 892 (NRC 12) to 2008 kg/ha (JS 97‐52). The maximin–minimax approach was used to classify these genotypes, and only, one genotype was identified as drought resistant and high yielding (EC 538828), three as tolerant and high yielding (JS 97‐52, EC 456548 and EC 602288) and none as low yielding and resistant, while the remaining 12 genotypes were found to be low yielding and susceptible to drought.