Assessment of Seed Yield Stability of Advanced Rainfed Lentil Lines in Multi-Environmental Trials using WAASB and WAASBY Indices

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and interpret the genotype × environment interaction for advanced rainfed lentil lines. Fifteen advanced rainfed lentil lines (genotypes) along with two commercial cultivars (cv. Gachsaran and cv. Sepehr) as check were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications in Gachsaran, Moghan, Khorramabad and Ilam field stations in Iran in 2019-20 and 2020-21 cropping seasons. The mean seed yield of trials was 891 kg ha-1. Genotype 10 with 1031 kg ha-1 had the highest mean seed yield, and genotype 16 (cv. Gachsaran) with 728 kg ha-1 had the lowest. Since genotype × environment interaction was significant, yield stability analysis was performed. Evaluation of the seed yield stability of genotypes by rank method showed that genotypes 12 and 10 had high seed yield and yield stability. In addition, yield stability analysis using WAASB index, as a multivariate method, was also performed. The seed yield × WAASB index biplot showed that most of the lentil genotypes had higher seed yield and yield stability than the check cultivars (cv. Gachsaran and cv. Sepehr). Genotypes 12, 13, 11, 10 and 1 had higher seed yield and yield stability than the superior check cultivar (cv. Sepehr). Considering the equal contribution for mean seed yield and yield stability in the calculation of WAASBY index, genotypes 10, 13, 11, 12, 1 were ranked as the most desirable genotypes for target environments.