Stability analysis for seed yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes by experimental and biological approaches.

A range of environmental factors restricts the production of chickpea; therefore, introducing compatible cultivars to a range of environments is an important goal in breeding programs. This research aims to find high-yielding and stable chickpea genotypes to rainfed condition. Fourteen advanced chickpea genotypes with two control cultivars were cultivated in a randomized complete block design in four regions of Iran during 2017-2020 growing seasons. The first two principal components of AMMI explained 84.6 and 10.0 % of genotype by environment interactions, respectively. Superior genotypes based on simultaneous selection index of ASV (ssiASV), ssiZA, ssiDi and ssiWAAS were G14, G5, G9 and G10; those based on ssiEV and ssiSIPC were G14, G5, G10 and G15 and those based on ssiMASD were G14, G5, G10 and G15. The AMMI1 biplot identified G5, G12, G10 and G9 as stable and high-yielding genotypes. Genotypes G6, G5, G10, G15, G14, G9 and G3 were the most stable genotypes in the AMMI2 biplot. Based on the harmonic mean and relative performance of genotypic values, G11, G14, G9 and G13 were the top four superior genotypes. Factorial regression indicated that rainfall is very important at the beginning and end of the growing seasons. Genotype G14, in many environments and all analytical and experimental approaches, has good performance and stability. Partial least squares regression identified genotype G5 as a suitable genotype for moisture and temperature stresses conditions. Therefore, G14 and G5 could be candidates for introduction of new cultivars.