Multi-location trials identify stable high-yielding spring bread and durum wheat cultivars in Mexico

Determining the stability and consistency of grain yield performance requires accurate evaluation of genotypes in different environments. In Mexico, annual national spring wheat irrigated trials (ENTRI) are conducted to assess elite bread (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum (Triticum durum L.) wheat performance in different testing environments (TEs) in the main wheat-growing areas. These trials provide data supporting release of new cultivars and aim to also address Mexican wheat value chain grain needs. This study analyzed grain yield performance of 30 bread and durum wheat cultivars grown in trials in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing cycles conducted across TEs in northwest, north, and central Mexico. Environmental variability (location, sowing timing, and irrigation schemes) across the ENTRI enabled genotype by environment interaction to be effectively evaluated. Bread and durum wheat genotypes with high and stable grain yield were also identified and compared across TEs of the wheat-growing areas of Mexico. The bread wheat cultivars Bacorehuis F2015 and Borlaug100 F2014, and the durum cultivars Barobampo C2015, CONASIST C2015, and Anatoly C2011 were high yielding and gave stable performance in most of the TEs. This analysis demonstrates the utility of multi-year, multi-environment testing and analysis to identify improved wheat cultivars to meet wheat production demand in Mexico. It also provides useful testing and analysis methods for selection of suitable broadly as well as locally adapted varieties in other wheat producing regions of the world.