Study on Adaptability and Grain Yield Stability of Barley Genotypes in Warm Rainfed Areas

The present study was conducted in a randomized completely block design (19 genotypes × 4 replicates × 3 locations × 3 years) under rainfed conditions. Simple analysis of variance of grain yield was done for each experiment separately and homogeneity test of errors variance was calculated using F max Hartly test. The combined analysis of variance indicated that main effects of genotype and interactions of year×location and year×genotype×location were significant, but main effects of year, location and interaction effects of year×genotype and genotype×location were not significant. Three stability parameters were used to determine stable lines, including environmental coefficient of variation (C.Vi), Mean square of years within location for a genotype (MSy/l) and ranking method. All three stability tests proved that genotype no. 12 (Wi2291) was the best potentially genotype for rainfed condition. Furthermore, the stability of genotype no. 14 (Alanda/Harma-01/7/Gustoe/6/M64-76/Bon//…) was confirmed by CV and MSy/l methods. On the other hand, the selected genotypes had great agronomic characters and produced higher grain yield in three locations compared to the Izeh (Check cultivar). Line no. 15 (Roho/Alger/Ceres362-1-1/3/Kantara/4/..) and line no. 16 (Zanbaca/3/H.spont.21-3/Arar84//...) were selected for Gachsaran and Moghan respectively. The three used stability parameter were found to be useful tools for selecting stable genotypes under rainfed condition