QTL model evaluation
The evaluation of the QTL and QTL x E model (Eq. 1) with the data collected on extra genotypes at the three sites showed low to moderate prediction accuracy (Figure 6). Panicle length had relatively low prediction accuracy (r = 0.34) but also low percentage of bias (%bias = 0.3%). Primary branching number had similar results as panicle length (r = 0.36, %bias = 0.3%). Secondary branching number had a moderate prediction accuracy (r = 0.62) but with slightly larger percentage of bias (%bias = 0.6%).