Selection of Barley Genotypes for Warm Regions of Iran Using Stability Statistics and AMMI Analysis

To identify barley promising lines with high and stable grain yield for warm regions of Iran, 17 barley lines as well as three check cultivars; Zahak (in South) or Sahra (in North), Nimrooz and WB-93-3 line were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications in five agricultural research field stations of Ahvaz, Darab, Zabol, Gonbad and Moghan, Iran, for two cropping seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18). Combined analysis of variance showed significant effects of genotype, year × location, genotype × location, genotype × year and year × location × genotype on grain yield. For identifying genotypes with high and stable grain yields, mean rank, rank standard deviation, non-parametric statistics; Si1, Si2, Si3, Si6, NPi1, NPi2, NPi3, NPi4, and parametric statistics; coefficient of variance, Shukla’s stability variance, Wricke’s ecovalence, Kang’s rank-sum and AMMI analysis methods were used. According to the results, lines no. 3 (Dasht//Ebc(a)/Badia/3/Sahra) and line no. 4 (Dasht//Ebc(a)/Badia/3/Nik) in the southern warm and dry regions, and line no. 9 (Violeta/Mja//Manal/Alanda-01) in northern warm and humid regions of Iran were identified as superior lines which can be released as new commercial cultivars, and also be used as parents in the national barley breeding programs.