Adaptability and stability of sugarcane genotypes for fiber yield

The development of sugarcane cultivars for energy production and renewable fuels is one of the objectives of improvement programs, given the environmental impacts caused by the burning of fossil fuels. In this present work, our aim was to select sugarcane genotypes with higher fiber yield, total recoverable sugar per hectare, adaptability and phenotypic and genotypic stability. The experiments were conducted in 4 environments over two agricultural years, totalizing eight environments. We evaluated eleven elite genotypes, and each trial was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications. To ensure greater precision in the selection and recommendation of these genotypes, we employed three methodologies for adaptability and stability analysis: additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis, GGE biplot and mixed linear models. Our findings revealed a strong genotype x environment interaction, which complicates the selection of genotypes with higher productivity. However, the use of different methodologies for adaptability and stability analysis provides greater confidence in the selection and recommendation of new genotypes for environments in the state of Pernambuco. We identified genotypes with specific adaptability to the tested environments. Genotypes G9, G1, G11, G6, and G3 exhibited higher genotypic values of productivity, adaptability, and stability.