It is important for yield test sites to elicit differences among genotypes, minimize redundancy of performance information, and generate a genotype × environment interaction representative of the targeted region. The objective of this study was to use corn (Zea mays L.) variety trial data from three relative maturity group (MG) tests (early, medium, and late) at five Tennessee locations spanning 14 yr to compare test location uniqueness and redundancy via genetic variance estimates and cluster analysis. Principle component analyses allowed for location comparisons of genetic variance expression among cultivars in different MG tests. Individual location–test–year genetic variance estimates ranged from <1 to 584 (Mg ha⁻¹)². Years and locations affected the magnitude of genetic variance, with years largely driving genetic expression within MGs in these environments. However, the late MG consistently had the greatest variance estimates. Across 14 yr, there was minimum duplicative information provided across the five yield test sites. Consequently, all locations were needed and none could be eliminated without compromising cultivar yield trial information for the three MG tests. Correlations between mean yields and genetic variance showed a weak relationship across locations (environments), years, and MG tests (r = .021); thus, high‐yielding environments did not correspond with increased genetic variance expression. These types of analyses are useful for evaluating the discriminating ability and duplicative or correlated expression of genetic information across locations for robust variety trials within and across maturity groups and targeted regions.

中文翻译：

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基于玉米杂交种间遗传变异表达的玉米产量试验区的歧视效应比较

对于产量测试位点而言，引起基因型之间的差异，最小化性能信息的冗余以及生成代表目标区域的基因型×环境相互作用非常重要。这项研究的目的是使用田纳西州五个相对成熟度组（MG）测试（早，中和晚）在14年内的三个相对成熟度组（MG）测试中的玉米（Zea mays L.）品种试验数据，通过遗传变异估计和聚类分析。主成分分析允许在不同的MG试验中进行品种间遗传差异表达的位置比较。个体位置–测试–年遗传变异估计范围在<1至584（Mg ha ^-1）^2之间。年和地点影响了遗传变异的程度，在这些环境中，年很大程度上推动了MG内部的基因表达。但是，晚期MG始终具有最大的方差估计。在过去的14年中，五个产量测试站点之间提供的重复信息最少。因此，需要所有位置，并且在不影响三个MG试验的品种产量试验信息的情况下，所有位置都无法消除。平均产量与遗传变异之间的相关性表明，不同地点（环境），年份和MG试验之间的关系较弱（r = .021）；因此，高产环境与遗传变异表达的增加并不对应。这些类型的分析对于评估跨位置的遗传信息的区分能力和重复表达或相关表达非常有用，从而可以在成熟组和目标区域内和之间进行强大的品种试验。