Exploration of Grain Yield Stability of Advanced Chickpea Strains Across Environments

Abstract

| Exploration of yield stability and defining the adaptation domains of advance strains is highly imperative for crop genetic improvement programs. The research aimed to determine the yield stability of sixteen advance chickpea strains was carried out at eleven diversified locations across the Punjab province of Pakistan during cropping season 2019-20. GGE biplot and mega environment analysis were employed to identify the most stable and high yielding chickpea advance strains. GGE biplot among PC1 and PC2 illustrated that G-10 (K-15019) was ideal genotype performing best across the environments. Higher yield potential coupled with more yield stability across all test environments was recorded in G-10 (K-15019) followed by G-2 (CH47/12), G-12 (K-15001), G-15(CH66/10) and G-16(CH53/12). Mega environment analysis revealed that E8 (Adaptive Research Farm, Karor) and E2 (Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad) were most discriminating environments for grain yield and most useful for screening of genotypes. Result for yield stability indicated that G-10 (K-15019), G-2 (CH47/12), G-12 (K-15001), G-15 (CH66/10) and G-16 (CH53/12) were higher yielding and more stable across environments, therefore these genotypes may be utilized in chickpea breeding program for development of widely adapted chickpea cultivars. Moreover, G-10 (K-15019) identified as ideal genotype in terms of stability and yield potential may be released as commercial variety for general cultivation in future.