GxE interaction of 72 accessions with three year evaluation of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt. using regression coefficient and Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction model (AMMI)

Abstract

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt. is an industrially important aromatic grass which gives essential oil upon distillation; however this crop is very much influenced by the environmental factors. Therefore the present investigation was performed to evaluate the stability of 72 germplasm of C. winterianus over three macro-environments (three year) by using Eberhart and Russell (1966) method and Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model. The regression analysis of genotype x environment linear (G x E) (Lin.) components were significant for all the traits except leaf length, leaf breadth and herbage yield. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model (AMMI) were performed to study the genotype x environment interaction for herbage yield, essential oil yield and citronellal content. Principal component analysis of AMMI Analysis of variance showed 66.1 % (herbage yield), 69.6 % (essential oil yield) and 82.5 % (citronellal content) of G x E interaction. According to regression coefficient analysis and AMMI biplot, six genotypes were found to be high yielding and stable for herbage yield. Similarly, four and seven high yielding genotypes were identified for essential oil yield and citronellal content respectively that showed consistent performance across the macro-environments. These genotypes may be utilized in future breeding programme and development of superior germplasm of Cymbopogon winterianus on the basis of high yield and stable nature. This is the first report on the stability analysis of 72 germplasm of Cymbopogon winterianus for three years evaluation.