Corn Geospatial strategy: a more deeply understanding of hybrid competitiveness and performance by combining digital tools and data modeling

Abstract

The comparative performance trials (CPT) of experimental and commercial cultivars in multi-environment trials, allow the determination of genotype (G) response to the different environment (E) and interaction (GxE). The final goal is to provide selection guidelines to identify the best genotypes to advance in the pipeline of the breeding program. Nowadays, the use of the digital information technologies to monitoring yield can be used in the CPTs to accurate measuring and recording of grain yield as well as the local environmental context. This research was carried out at 138 locations corresponding to commercial fields located in Argentina. The harvested was made with yield monitor and weighing machine wagon. To compare the grain yield of hybrids within each E and GXE interaction, the MLM of ANAVA with spatial correlation was adjusted for each location. Whereas, for CPT-without spatial data the ANAVA simple was applicate. The new analytic strategy showed greater power to: (a) find significant differences (p<0.05) in the GxE interaction, (b) increase 2.5 times the amount of information generated, i.e. than 1 CPT (1 location) analyzed with the new strategy. The new approach improves the data-driven decision making to support advancement processes from precommercial to commercial.