Genotype by environment interactions of heat stress disorder resistance in crisphead lettuce

Lettuce is a cool season crop susceptible to physiological disorders when exposed to supra optimal temperatures. Genotype (G) by environment (E) interaction (GE) of rib discolouration, tipburn, premature bolting and ribbiness in crisphead lettuce was characterized under high temperature and long day growing conditions. Replicated data of 10 crisphead lettuce varieties from two plantings in each of four growing seasons at two locations in Quebec were analysed using the GGE biplot method. Head-weight-over-stem-length ratio, ribbiness, rib discolouration incidence and tipburn incidence were affected (P = 0.00001) by E, G and GE. E explained more variation in head-weight-over-stem-length ratio (77.1%) and rib discolouration incidence (77.3%) than G and GE, whereas GE explained more variation (72.4%) in tipburn incidence and G explained more variation (38%) in ribbiness. Strong crossover GE was detected with rib discolouration and tipburn incidence, but not with head-weight-over-stem-length ratio and ribbiness. Under heat stress, varieties of the Vanguard group had lower ribbiness than those of the Great Lakes group. Cultivar 'Estival' showed consistent resistance to bolting, ribbiness, tipburn and rib discolouration across all E.