A multivariate procedure for classifying environments according to their interaction with genotypes

Abstract

Canonical variates analysis was adapted to the problem of classifying environments according to their interactions with wheat genotypes, and was used to subdivide the Central West of New South Wales into uniform sub-regions. The method takes into account any fluctuations from year to year in the genotype x location interaction effects, and has several other advantages over the procedures previously used.

Most of the variability among locations was represented by one canonical variate and was related to an east-westerly trend. It is suggested that the Central West be divided into two sub-regions, the eastern slopes and the western plains, for the purpose of varietal evaluations and recommendations.