Stability analysis in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the stability of thirty pearl millet accessions including inbreds and hybrids procured from ICRISAT, Hyderabad during summer 2017 over three dates of sowing viz., 1st March, 16th March and 31st March. The G × E interaction was significant for days to flowering, plant height, number of effective tillers per plant, earhead girth, seed setting on main tiller, leaf area, grain yield per plant and harvest index when tested against pooled error. The results of estimates of environmental index (Ij), suggested that E1 (Date of sowing 1st March, 2017) was most favourable environment. From the stability analysis, the nine genotypes possess average stability and showed wider adaptability for grain yield per plant also displayed either average or above or below average stability for other characters. The hybrids viz., ICMA 98444 × 18587 R, ICMA 98222 × 17369 R, ICMA 99222 × 17829 R and ICMA 98444 × 17369 R were identified average stable for most of traits studied in the present investigation.