Genotype - Environment interaction for grain yield in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Twenty-five genotypes of chickpea were evaluated for stability of grain yield under 12 diverse environments within Pakistan. The interaction between the genotypes and environments (G X E interaction) was used as an index to determine the yield stability of genotypes under all the environments. The G X E interaction was highly significant and both linear as well as non-linear components were equally important for determining the yield stability. Since the regressions (bi) were not significantly different from linearity, therefore, stable performance of the varieties could not be predicted on ‘bi’ alone. In this case, deviations from regression and the cultivars yield were used to judge the superior genotypes. The genotypes; ‘96051’, ‘90280’, ‘C44’, ‘91A039’, ‘NCS95004’, ‘NCS950010’, ‘NCS950180’, ‘99101’, ‘A-16’, ‘91A001’, ‘NCS950012’ and ‘93009’ produced above average yield. The genotypes ‘96051’ and ‘98280’ gave highest grain yield but their high deviation from regression showed fluctuation in the performance under different environments. The genotypes ‘C44’, ‘NCS950183’ and ‘93009’ had also above average yield but their low deviation from regression revealed more stable performance compared to others.