Stability analysis of seed yield in safflower genotypes

Title: Stability analysis of seed yield in safflower genotypes
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual plant and has been used for dye, food coloring, medicine, vegetable, hay, birdseed, edible oil and both fresh-cut and dried flowers. Spatial variability is inherent in all field experiments. The relative performance of lines varies with environment, and this genotype × environment (G×E) interaction hampers selection of lines for cultivation over a wide region. The objectives of this study were to analyze genotype by environment (GE) interactions on the seed yield of 30 safflower genotypes by the additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) model and to evaluate genotype (G), environment (E) and GE interactions using statistics parameter i.e. AMMI stability value (ASV) and ecovalence (W2i).
Thirty safflower genotypes were evaluated over a three year period (2012-15) across two research stations in Iran and there were 6 growing environments in total. The individual trials were conducted using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The experiments were planted in autumn of each year. Each genotypes was sown in plots (9 m2) of 6 rows, 5-m long with spacing of 30-cm between rows. Normal agronomic operations like weed and pest control were done. Each plot was harvested leaving 30 cm on both ends of the rows in order to exclude border effects. Simple analyses of variance in all environments were done for seed yield, separately. Combined analysis of variance was performed assuming genotype effect as fixed, environment effect as random factor.
The results of combined analysis of variance showed that there were highly significant differences (P In this study, according to the AMMI model, the G2 and G4 were the genotypes with the best adaptation and superior in all environments.
Acknowledgements: I would like to thank E. Neyestani and other members of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Khorasan Shomali for their kind advices. The collaborations of A. Hakimi, A. Saburi and M. Hakimi at Shirvan agricultural research station are greatly acknowledged.