Stability Analysis for Yield and Physiological Traits in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with 32 diverse genotypes of bread wheat in completely randomized block design with 3 replications at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of agriculture & Technology Pantnagar for the screening of genetic variability under three environments viz., timely sown (E1), late sown (E2) and very late sown (E3) conditions. The observations were recorded on 16 agronomic traits and 3 physiological traits. The statistical analysis was performed to analyze stability for different yield and physiological traits using Eberhart and Russell model. Genotypic performance varied substantially over different sowing conditions. Stability analysis revealed that the maximum number of stable genotypes were observed in grain weight per spike followed by number of tillers per plant, number of spikelets per spike, biological yield per plant, CTD-II, SPAD value, CTD-I, 1000-grains weight, relative water content, days to 75% heading, spike length, harvest index while no stable genotypes were observed for days to 75% anthesis, days to maturity and plot yield. The genotypes bearing the desired values of mean performance, stability parameters can be exploited in future breeding programme for developing stable varieties for yield related and physiological traits under different sowing conditions in wheat crop. These genotypes can be used as donor parents in crop improvement programme.