Analysis of Adaptability of Soybean Mini Core Collection in Huang-Huai Rivers Region in China

For evaluating the environmental adaptability and stability of soybean [Glycine spp.] germplasm, the data of important agronomic traits in a mini core collection were analyzed using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. The mini core collection contained 60 accessions of soybean germplasm, and their agronomic traits were investigated in 6 trail sites in Hebei, Henan, and Shandong provinces of China from 2008 to 2009. The interactions between genotypes and environment (G × E) were significant (P < 0.01) in plant height, effective branch number, 100-seed weight, and yield per unit area, which accounted for 16.7–24.6% of total variations. Thus, it is necessary to dissect the environmental stability of the mini core collection. Adaptabilities of genotypes varied across planting sites in different traits. Some genotypes showed wide adaptability and good stability with small phenotypic variations in different sites; whereas, strong G × E interaction was observed in some other genotypes. This result provides a theoretical basis for effectively using the mini core collection in soybean breeding in the Huang-Huai Rivers Region of China.