Investigating the Stability of Bread Wheat Genotypes under Water Deficit Stress Conditions in Different Cold Climate Regions of Iran using AMMI and GGE-Biplot Analysis

It is necessary to develop new sustainable high-yielding cultivars in drought-prone areas. The yield of cultivars in different environments is different and their yield rating varies from one environment to another. Reduction of interaction effects and production stability in different environments is one of the goals of breeding program and introducing cultivars in different regions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the genotype ×environment interaction effect in different cold climate regions of Iran and to determine the superior genotypes and introduce the most stable wheat genotype in these conditions.

To investigate of the stability of 17 wheat genotypes along with Mihan, Heydari and Zarineh cultivars (check cultivars) under water deficit conditions, these genotypes were tested in a randomized complete block designwith three replications in the research stations of Karaj, Hamedan, Mashhad, Jalgarokh, Miandoab and Ardabil in the two crop years 2018 to 2019. In order to check the stability of genotypes, AMMI and GGE-biplot analysis were used.

AMMI analysis showed that the first ten main components were significant and in total explained nearly 97% of the changes in the genotype × environment interaction and the two main components, the first and the second, contributed 46% to the expression of the genotype × environment interaction. Based on SSiASV and SSiWAAS indices G2, G19 and G4 were identified as the best genotypes, respectively. The G3 was the most stable genotype. GGE-biplot analysis showed that G16, G1, G3 and G7 had the highest general stability compared to other genotypes. G16 can be considered as a desirable genotype that has high average yield and high yield stability. G12 and G9 genotypes were in the next ranks. On the other hand, the ideal environment was not observed, but the environments of Mashhad, Ardabil and Karaj in the first year can be introduced as the closest environments to the ideal environment for the selection of superior wheat genotypes in water deficit condition in the cold climate of the Iran.

G3 was the most stable genotype, and then G16, G1 and G7 had the most general stability compared to other genotypes, so that G16 was identified as the desired genotype with high average yield and high yield stability. The environments of Mashhad, Ardabil and Karaj in the first year can also be used to select superior genotypes.