Stability Analyses for Seed Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes in the Western Cold Zone of Iran

Different methods have been developed to estimate of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) in crop plants. In this study, 14 kabuli type chickpea genotypes were assessed for seed yield in four stations over three successive years (2010-2013) at west highlands of Iran. Randomized complete block design was used in all test environments with four replicates. Combined analysis of variance for seed yield revealed significant differences between genotypes, locations, and interaction between these two sources. The mean seed yield of genotypes averaged over environments showed that V4 and V2 had the highest (1163.58 kg ha-1) and the lowest seed yield (759.07 kg ha-1), respectively. Significant GE interaction implied that chickpea genotypes had various responses to different environments and, the stability analysis could be performed. To investigate GEI and identify the best performing stable genotypes, several stability parameters were employed. According to Wricke’s ecovalance, stability variance, Plaisted method, and genotypic stability V5, V8 and V3 were the most stable genotypes. Based on CV, regression coefficient and MS(GE), V1 and V5 found to be stable and adapted to diverse environments, and the other genotypes distributed among stability statistics. Based on the AMMI biplot, 12 tes