Stability analysis of phenological traits, seed yield and quality traits in advanced breeding lines of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Abstract

An experiment was carried at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, during rabi 2020-21 to study the nature and extent of genotype by environment interaction on phenological traits, seed yield and quality traits in chickpea. The stability and adaptability of the advance breeding lines of chickpea to various sowing windows of Andhra Pradesh was studied. The study was taken up with 10 advance chickpea breeding lines and four check genotypes planted in Randomized block Design with three replications sown during October (E1), November (E2) and December (E3) representing various sowing windows adopted by farmers in Andhra Pradesh. Stability analysis as per Eberhart and Russel (1966) revealed highly significant genotype × environment interaction for days to 50% flowering, duration of flowering, leaf area index, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, harvest index, seed yield, hydration capacity, swelling capacity and iron content indicating a variable response of the genotype to the different dates of planting studied. The E1 environment (October) was found to be favorable for phenological traits, yield attributing traits and quality characters and E2 environment (November) was found to be favorable for yield attributing traits.NBeG 47, NBeG 798 and NBeG 690 were stable genotypes with respect to the seed yield and appear to be ideal genotypes for achieving high yields under variable environments. Genotypes NBeG 699, NBeG 440, NBeG 789, NBeG 833, NBeG 119, KAK 2were recommended for December planting (late planting) where as NBeG 779, NBeG 776, NBeG 452, NBeG 857 and NBeG 810could be suggested for rich environment (October) for realizing enhanced yield. With respect quality traits, kabuli genotypes NBeG 833 NBeG 789 and NBeG 440 had stable performance in all three sowing windows.