Genotype × Environment Interaction and Phenotypic Stability analysis of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in Mid-Hills of North-West Himalayas

Abstract

Stability performance of 30 linseed genotypes including commercial cultivars and elite lines (indigenous and exotic) was compared by using regression on environmental means for grain yield and its components under 5 different environments during rabi 2013-2014. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all the traits studied over all 5 individual environments. Genotype × environment interactions were highly significant for all the characters studied. E + (G × E) was significant for all the characters except the number of seeds per capsule. Mean sum of squares for environment (linear) showed significance for all the characters. Significant differences for G × E (linear) were observed for 5 traits viz., primary branches per plant, secondary branches per plant, aerial biomass yield per plant, seed yield per plant and 1000-seed weight. Based on mean performance, regression coefficient (bi) and deviation from regression (S2di) the genotype Him Alsi-2, KL-241 and Nagarkot was highly stable for seed yield (g) and number of capsules per plant was found most adaptive to overall environments. These promising genotypes may be utilized as donors in linseed improvement program for target ecosystems.