Genotype X Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis for Grain Yield of Bread Wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) Genotypes Under Low Moisture Stress Areas of Ethiopia

A multi-locations’ experiments were carried out from 2018 to 2019 main cropping seasons in moisture stress areas of Ethiopia to estimate the genotype x environment interaction and to select stable and adaptable variety/ies for grain yield of bread wheat. The genotypes consisted of 23 genotypes and two standard checks arranged in alpha lattice design replicated three times. Data were taken for agronomic traits and diseases. Analysis of variances and stability analysis were carried out for grain yield using R software. Combined analysis of variance showed a highly significant (p≤0.01) difference among the genotypes, locations, and GEI for grain yield suggesting a differential response of genotypes across testing environments. The grand mean yield over nine environments was 5251.90 kg ha-1 and the mean yield of genotypes across nine environments ranged from 1539.29 kg ha-1 in 2018 at Dhera to 7621.87 kg ha-1 in 2018 at Kulumsa, respectively. The recorded mean yield of the standard check Deka (5066.543 kg ha-1) and Ogolcho (4018.39 kg ha-1) was below the grand mean yield of genotypes across environments. The Genotypes ETBW 9136 (5731.79 kg ha-1), ETBW 9139 (5844.87 kg ha-1), ETBW 9646 (5754.01 kg ha-1), ETBW9172 (5634.01 kg ha-1), ETBW9641 (5545.03 kg ha-1), ETBW 9080 (5545.31 kg ha-1) and ETBW9396 (5467.04 kg ha-1) gave the highest mean grain yield across environments, whereas the standard check Ogolcho recorded lowest mean grain yield across environments. The first four principal components of the GEI explained 85.6% of the variation. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability parameters revealed that the genotypes ETBW 9080 (G11), ETBW 9172 (G12), ETBW 9646 (G19), ETBW 9396 (G13), ETBW 9452 (G14), ETBW 9136 (G5) and ETBW 9139 (G6) were high yielder and more stable inferring little interaction of genotypes with the environment whereas Ogolcho (G25), ETBW 9119 (G3), ETBW 9647 (G20) and ETBW 9065 (G8) was low yielder and unstable suggesting high interaction with the environments. Based on stability parameters and other agronomic traits, the genotypes viz. ETBW 9396 (G13) and ETBW 9080 (G11), were proposed for variety verification and possible release in 2021.