Stability analysis for yield in early duration pigeonpea based on AMMI, GGE and multi trait stability index

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) productivity is significantly influenced by genotype × environment interaction (GEI), necessitating the identification of stable and widely adapted genotypes. The present study evaluated seventeen early duration pigeonpea genotypes across three cropping seasons (E1: Kharif (June) 2022, E2: Kharif (July) 2023 and E3: Rabi (September) 2023-24) at the Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, using a randomized block design with three replications. Twelve yield and yield-related traits were recorded and analysed using pooled ANOVA, Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI), Genotype plus Genotype × Environment Interaction (GGE) biplot and Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI). Pooled ANOVA and AMMI ANOVA revealed significant genotype, environment and GEI effects for most of the traits. For single plant yield, AMMI analysis indicated that the first interaction principal component axis (IPCA1) explained 93.70 % of the GEI variation. Based on AMMI analysis, CORG7, ICPL19038 and ICPL19010 were identified as high-yielding genotypes, whereas ICPL19010 combined high yield with stability. Likewise, GGE biplot also identified ICPL19010 as the ideal genotype with high yield and stability, whereas CORG7 exhibited higher productivity with specific adaptation to Environment 1. Environment 1 was identified as the most representative and discriminating testing environment. MTSI analysis further identified ICPL19008, ICPL19010 and ICPL19017 as superior genotypes based on simultaneous evaluation of all twelve traits. Overall, ICPL19010 consistently combined high yield, stability and broad adaptation across environments, making it a promising genotype for pigeonpea breeding and varietal improvement.