Parametric methods for estimating genotype-environment interactions and phenotypic stability (stability of genotypes over environments) are widely used in plant and animal breeding and production. Several nonparametric methods proposed by Huhn (1979, EDP in Medicine and Biology 10, 112-117) are based on the ranks of genotypes in each environment and use the idea of homeostasis as a measure of stability. In this study the statistical properties and tests of significance for two of these nonparametric measures of phenotypic stability (mean of the absolute rank differences of a genotype over the environments and variance among the ranks over the environments) are investigated. The purpose of this study is to develop approximate but easily applied statistical tests based on the normal distribution. Finally, application of the theoretical results is demonstrated using data on 20 genotypes (varieties) of winter wheat in 10 environments (locations) from the official German registration trials.
Biometrics is a scientific journal emphasizing the role of statistics and mathematics in the biological sciences. Its object is to promote and extend the use of mathematical and statistical methods in pure and applied biological sciences by describing developments in these methods and their applications in a form readily assimilable by experimental scientists. JSTOR provides a digital archive of the print version of Biometrics. The electronic version of Biometrics is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showIssues&code;=biom. Authorized users may be able to access the full text articles at this site.
The International Biometric Society is an international society for the advancement of biological science through the development of quantitative theories and the application, development and dissemination of effective mathematical and statistical techniques. The Society welcomes as members biologists, mathematicians, statisticians, and others interested in applying similar techniques.
This item is part of JSTOR collection
For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions
Biometrics
© 1987 International Biometric Society
Request Permissions
