YIELD STABILITY ANALYSIS OF PROMISING PEARL-MILLET GENOTYPES IN SENEGAL

Genotype environment interaction in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) was studied for grain yield by growing 10 to 12 genotypes at 4 locations for 4 years in Senegal. Genotype x environment interaction was present; a large portion of the interaction was accounted for by the non-linear regression on the environmental means. Although the linear component was significant, its magnitude was considerably smaller than that of the non-linear component. All the genotypes except Souna III were stable and their responses to changes in environments could be predicted. The highest yielding entry was IBV 8001 which was significantly superior to the local checks in terms of grain yield production. IBV 8001 was the most desirable genotype as it had the highest grain yield and slope of unity, and the mean square due to deviation from regression was zero.