Evaluation of Grain Yield Stability of Advanced Rainfed Lentil Genotypes using Multivariate AMMI Method

Identification of high-yield genotypes with adaptation to a wide range of environments is one of the major goals in crop breeding programs.

 In order to evaluate the yield stability of advanced lentil genotypes, 14 advanced genotypes along with two local cultivars (Gachsaran and Sepehr), were evaluated in four regions of Gachsaran, Khorramabad, Moghan and Ilam, during two cropping years 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. In order to evaluate the yield stability and genotype*environment interaction, the model of “additive main effects and multiplicative interactions” (AMMI) was used.

The results of AMMI analysis of variance showed very significant interaction between genotype and environment. The first two main components of the AMMI model accounted for nearly 70% of GE interaction. ASV statistic in AMMI model showed that genotypes 9, 8, 1 and 12 showed the lowest amount of ASV and therefore the highest stability. Among these genotypes, only genotype 9 , had higher yield than the superior control cultivar (Sepehr). AMMI 1 (PC1 and yield) and AMMI 2 (PC1 and PC2) biplot diagrams showed that genotypes 9 and 10 were identified as genotypes with higher yield and stability (copmared to Sepehr cultivar). Accordingly, genotypes 11 and 5 were the most unstable genotypes. High-yield genotype 11 lacked general adaptation and showed private adaptation to environment 1 and 2 that they belong to Gachsaran region. Genotype 5 showed private adaptation to Khorramabad region. Genotypes 12 and 8 showed lower than average yield despite suitable stability. Based on the biplot diagram of the first two main components, environments 8 and 7 (Ilam) along with 2 and 4 had the largest share in its GE interaction.

Overall, G9 and G10 genotypes due to higher grain yield and stability were determined as superior genotypes.