Multi-trait and multi-environment Bayesian analysis to predict the G x E interaction in flood-irrigated rice

PLoS One. 2022 May 3;17(5):e0259607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259607. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The biggest challenge for the reproduction of flood-irrigated rice is to identify superior genotypes that present development of high-yielding varieties with specific grain qualities, resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses in addition to superior adaptation to the target environment. Thus, the objectives of this study were to propose a multi-trait and multi-environment Bayesian model to estimate genetic parameters for the flood-irrigated rice crop. To this end, twenty-five rice genotypes belonging to the flood-irrigated rice breeding program were evaluated. Grain yield and flowering were evaluated in the agricultural year 2017/2018. The experimental design used in all experiments was a randomized block design with three replications. The Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm was used to estimate genetic parameters and genetic values. The flowering is highly heritable by the Bayesian credibility interval: h2 = 0.039-0.80, and 0.02-0.91, environment 1 and 2, respectively. The genetic correlation between traits was significantly different from zero in the two environments (environment 1: -0.80 to 0.74; environment 2: -0.82 to 0.86. The relationship of CVe and CVg higher for flowering in the reduced model (CVg/CVe = 5.83 and 13.98, environments 1 and 2, respectively). For the complete model, this trait presented an estimate of the relative variation index of: CVe = 4.28 and 4.21, environments 1 and 2, respectively. In summary, the multi-trait and multi-environment Bayesian model allowed a reliable estimate of the genetic parameter of flood-irrigated rice. Bayesian analyzes provide robust inference of genetic parameters. Therefore, we recommend this model for genetic evaluation of flood-irrigated rice genotypes, and their generalization, in other crops. Precise estimates of genetic parameters bring new perspectives on the application of Bayesian methods to solve modeling problems in the genetic improvement of flood-irrigated rice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bayes Theorem
  • Edible Grain
  • Floods
  • Genotype
  • Oryza* / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Plant Breeding / methods

Grants and funding

The authors would like to thank the Research Support Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel for the financial support and research of Embrapa Rice and Beans Dr. Orlando Peixoto de Morais (in memory) and Prof. Dr. Fabyano Fonseca e Silva (in memory). This study was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Brazil (CAPES) - Financial Code 001. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for researcher fellowship to ICS 2018/26408-0. The funders had a role in study design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish, and the preparation of the manuscript.