Assessment of genotype × environment interaction and grain yield stability of selected aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes in northern region of Iran

For sustainable rice production in Iran the optimum use of production resources and the reduction of production costs are the two important issues. In this situation, water availability is a major limiting factor in sustainable rice production. Hence, changing of rice production system from lowland irrigated to aerobic production system, which is based on dry-seed sowing in non-puddled and non-satuared soil, is main goal in the national research plan. Six selected aerobic rice genotypes from preliminary yield trials together with two local checks of rice including; Neda, as tolerant and Tarom, as susceptible cultivars to aerobic conditions were evaluated using randomized comlete block design with three replications in Mazandaran and Golestan, Iran, provinces for three years from 2013-2015. Simple analysis of variance for each location showed significant differences among rice genotypes for all traits. Combined analysis of variance for grain yield was performed. There were highly significant differences for main effect of genotype, year × location and year × location ×genotype interactions effect. Grain yield stability analysis through AMMI and GGE bioplot methods indicated that aerobic rice cv. Vandana with an average grain yield of 2760 kg.ha-1 over all environments had high and grain yield with yield stability. This cultivar was also close to ideal rice genotype with lower plant height (98.8 cm) and phenology (97.0 days to 50% flowering), followed by the other two  aerobic rice genotypes; G2 (IR78908-193-B-3-B) and G6 (IR80508-B-194-3-B) with high grain yield over all environments. Therefore, these aerobic rice genotpes were selected and could be used in the national rice breeding programs or recommended for being grown in aerobic rice production system in Mazandaran and Golestan province under water-shortage conditions.