Abstract

Nasserlehaq Nsarellah , Ali Amamou, Mouna Taghouti and Paolo Annicchiarico

The continuous technological and environmental changes are reasons for periodical re-evaluation of variety performances and adaptation. The objective of this work was to re-assess the adaptation of the main registered durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. L. durum) varieties in Morocco. Twenty three varieties were tested in six sites and during four consecutive growing seasons 2001 to 2005. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design trials of three replicates. Two methods of genotype by environment interaction analysis were performed and results were compared: the regression model and the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model (AMMI). Analysis of variance showed highly significant effects of the experiment sites, the cropping seasons and of the varieties. Significant interactions of these main effects were also shown. Specific adaptation of particular varieties to specific sites was hence demonstrated. The conclusions brought by the two methods were concordant in rating the new Hessian fly resistant varieties as adapted to the dry lands and in rating the remaining high-yielding varieties as adapted to the favorable areas. AMMI analysis first component of variation explained 60.4% of error sum of squares due to genotype by location interaction while the regression model only explained 37.7 % of that same error.