Yield stability of performance in multi-environment trials of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes

Abstract

Fourteen new breeding lines obtained from the barley breeding programs, cultivar Izeh and one local check genotype were evaluated for yield stability at eleven environments. The combined analysis of variance indicated the significance of the environments, genotypes and genotype by environment interaction. According to the environmental variance (EV) and coefficient of variation (CV), genotypes G2, G12, G13 and G14 while based on Wi, P, PP and SH parameters genotypes G4, G10 and G12 were the most stable ones. Regarding both PI and MSPI parameters, genotypes G2, G10 and G11 were the most stable. According to coefficients of three linear regression models, genotypes G1, G6 and G8 were more responsive and had specific adaptability to favorable environments. Considering most of stability parameters, genotypes G4 (3 393 kg ha−1) G12 (3 440 kg ha−1) can be recommended as the most stable genotype with regard to both stability and yield. In this study, high values of DI were associated with high mean yield, but the other stability methods were not positively correlated with mean yield. The results of principal component analysis and correlation analysis indicated that EV, CV, ER, and DI stability parameters would be useful for simultaneously selecting for high yield and stability.