Environmental impact on the yield stability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted during Rabi 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, India. Twenty wheat genotypes, including five checks, were evaluated under field conditions across three sowing dates (1st December, 16th December, 1st January). The study aimed to identify stable wheat genotypes tolerant to heat stress. Traits including days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, ear head length, spikelet per spike, grains per spike, grain yield per plant, grain yield per plot, 1000 grain weight and photosynthetic rate. Variability and stability analysis (Eberhart and Russell model) highlighted significant genotypic and G×E interactions, indicating considerable genetic variability. A pooled analysis of variance across three environments revealed significant genotypic and environmental variances for plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, yield components and fructan content, with notable genotype × environment (G × E) interactions. Environmental differences contributed significantly to total trait variation, highlighting the influence of environment on trait expression and genotypic responses. Among genotypes, Phule Samadhan exhibited stable performance across all traits, making it suitable for diverse environments. NIAW 34, NIAW 4284, and DBW 17 showed stability for multiple traits, particularly yield components. These findings offer insights for selecting genotypes with stable performance for breeding programs targeting variable environments.