#!/bin/bash

TEXT='apple   V$NFY_Q6_rc V=0.741
apple   V$HOXA7_01_rc   V=0.454
apple   V$ALPHACP1_01_rc    V=0.695
orange  V$SP4_Q5    V=0.747
grapes  V$SP1_Q2_01 V=0.677
grapes  V$SP1_Q6_01_rc  V=0.685
grapes  V$SP1_Q6_rc V=0.884'


echo "Unsorted:"
awk -F'[ =]' '$NF>a[$1]{a[$1]=$NF;b[$1]=$0}END{for (i in b) print b[i]}' <<< "$TEXT"
echo "========
Sorted:"
awk -F'[ =]' '$NF>a[$1]{a[$1]=$NF;b[$1]=$0}END{for (i in b) print b[i]}' <<< "$TEXT" | sort -t= -nk2