Study on stability and adaptability of seed yield in spring safflower genotypes under rainfed conditions

In order to study genotype  environment interaction (G  E) and to identify high yielding and stable genotypes, 17 safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications, at 9 research stations during four consecutive cropping seasons (2003–06) under rainfed conditions. On the basis of AMMI analysis of variance, effects of genotype, environment and G  E were significant. The six IPCAs included in the AMMI model explained 82% of the interaction sum of squares. Stability parameters of AMMI model (SIPC, EV, AMGE, D and ASV), Eberhart & Russell’ method, Shukla’ stability variance, yield-stability statistic (YS), and simultaneous selection for yield and stability using GGE distance (GGED) were used to find the stable genotypes. According to stability statistics of AMMI analysis, G13, G8 and G6 could be considered as genotypes with general adaptability. The GGE biplot and the YS statistics gave similar results in identifying G15 and G4 as the best genotypes across environments. Finally, according to all stability statistics and mean yield, G13 (PI-250536) was recognized as the most stable genotype in all environments.