Analysis of stability for some characters in Kabuli Chickpea

Summary

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) experiments were conducted at three locations (Tel Hadya and Jindiress in Syria and Terbol in Lebanon), over two seasons (winter and spring) for three years (1983–84, 1985–86 and 1986–87) to identify stable lines. Analyses of variance were done to study the genotype-environment interactions and analysis of stability was done to determine the performance of lines in varying environments. Results showed significant differences between mean of the seasons and locations and lines for all characters in all the three years except for biological yield in 1985–86 and plant height in 1986–87. Genotype × season interactions at each location were highly significant for all characters in all years, suggesting that most genotypes responded differently to each season. Genotype×environment (linear) interactions were significant for all characters, except seed yield and biological yield in 1983–84. The significant pooled deviations for all characters, except seed yield and biological yield in 1983–84 and 1985–86 showed that prediction of performance of these lines is not possible. Some lines were high yielders but sensitive to changing environments, while other lines were resistant to changing environment but average yielders. This study, therefore, suggests that cultivars have to be bred separately for winter and spring seasons, and for favourable and unfavourable environments. Joint contribution from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru P.O., A.P. 502 324, India.(XX)