Stability of wheat genotypes for yield and moisture stress tolerance traits

Forty genotypes of wheat were evaluated over six environments under different moisture regimes for their yield performance. Genotype x environment interaction was found significant for plant height, peduncle length, grain yield, biological yield, LPH/PH index, PULPH index PUPH index, ear length, tillers per meter and harvest index. On partitioning it into linear and non-linear components, both were responsible for expression of the traits. However, the linear component was found larger in magnitude than the non-linear component suggesting that the variation in the performance of different cultivars could be predicted. The genotypes RR 49 and IB2K1–37 were found to be stable across environments for grain yield, while genotypes RR 888, RR 49, IB2K1–66, RS 897, RR 24 and IB2K1–37 were found to be stable across environments for yield components like 1000 grain weight, biological yield and tillers per meter. Genotypes DL 153-2, DL 788-2 and RR 19 were found to be having stable performance for plant height and component characters under stress environments. Thus these genotypes could be included in the hybridization programme to converge the stability characteristics of seed yield for development of a stable variety adapted to wider range of environments.