Evaluation of carrot (Daucus carota L.) varieties by adaptability of the taproots yield using ms Excel

There were carrot varieties Losinoostrovskaya 13 (VNIIO), Shantane 2461 (West Siberian O. O.S.) and Nantskaya 4 (VNIISSOK), which were evaluated based on the results of field tests in the Moscow region (2010-2012 & 2014-2016) in order to identify the standard of adaptability. The average monthly air temperatures during the growing seasons exceeded the average long-term indicators. The years of observations differed significantly in moisture availability. The taproots yield in contrasting weather conditions served as a criterion of the adaptability. Long-term data of the taproots yield were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance. According to results of two-way ANOVA, a significant influence of factors «variety», «year» and the «variety-year» interaction was revealed. There were indicators: the environmental index (I), the parameters of plasticity bi, the stability S2 (Eberhart, Russel, 1966), the coefficient of adaptability Kad (Zhivotkov et al., 1994), the indicator of the level and stability of the variety yield — PUSS, % (Nettevich et al., 1985) which were used to assess the adaptive properties of carrot varieties. These indicators differ in degree depending on the number of observations, the set of studied samples and the values of standard cultivars. MS Excel formulas are created using the functions SLOPE, TINV, SUMXMY2, SUMMPRODUCT and others to facilitate multi-stage calculations of indicators. Calculation algorithms are clearly demonstrated. The relationship between the environment index and the taproots yield of carrot varieties was characterized by high values of the determination coefficient R2=0.92-0.99, indicating a high approximation of the regression equation.According to the results of 6-year tests in contrasting weather conditions, the variety Shantane 2461 was allocated by adaptability. It surpassed other varieties in the taproots yield on average over the years of testing (4.2 kg/m2) and in the best weather conditions (up to 7.1 kg/m2) and was at the level of other varieties in the worst conditions. The variety Shantane 2461 demonstrated a favorable combination of high values of the coefficient of adaptability (Kad=1.09), the plasticity (bi= 1.4), the stability (S2= 0.06), the level and stability of the yield (PUSS=100 %).