Genetic Analysis and Performance of Grain Yield and Yield Stability in Spring Wheat across Diverse Canadian Environments

Wheat improvement faces the challenge of ensuring superior and consistent grain yield under variable agroclimatic and environmental conditions. This study evaluated a spring wheat double haploid population of AAC Brandon/Pasteur for yield and yield stability at three Canadian sites, Ottawa ON, Brandon MB, and Swift Current SK from 2021 to 2023. Agronomic data were analyzed to assess genotype by environment (G x E) interactions, and yield stability. Stability analysis showed correlation among stability indices and that visualization techniques, including AMMI and GGE biplots, captured significant G x E interaction. Several genotypes with superior yield performance and stability across environments were identified. SNP-based genotypic data was used to detect QTL associated with key agronomic traits and yield stability. Major QTL were detected across chromosomes for each trait; plant height (1A, 2D, 4B, 5B), days to maturity (5B, 7D), grain yield (2A, 6D), test weight (3A, 4B, 5A), thousand kernel weight (2B, 4A, 4B), and protein content (1A, 4D, 7A). QTL for grain yield stability traits were detected on chromosomes 1A, 2A, 2B and 2D. Several superior high yielding and stable genotypes, along with associated SNP markers associated with improved yield across diverse environments were identified.