The use of an AMMI model and its parameters to analyse yield stability in multi-environment trials

Genotype by environment (G x E) interaction effects are of special interest for breeding programmes to identify adaptation targets and test locations. Their assessment by additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model analysis is currently defined for this situation. A combined analysis of two former parametric measures and seven AMMI stability statistics was undertaken to assess G x E interactions and stability analysis to identify stable genotypes of 11 lentil genotypes across 20 environments. G x E interaction introduces inconsistency in the relative rating of genotypes across environments and plays a key role in formulating strategies for crop improvement. The combined analysis of variance for environments (E), genotypes (G) and G x E interaction was highly significant (P<0.01). suggesting differential responses of the genotypes and the need for stability analysis. The parametric stability measures of environmental variance showed that genotype ILL 6037 was the most stable genotype, whereas the priority index measure indicated genotype FLIP 82-1L to be the most stable genotype. The first seven principal component (PC) axes (PC1-PC7) were significant (P<0.01), but the first two PC axes Cumulatively accounted for 71% of the total G x E interaction. In contrast, the AMMI stability statistics suggested different genotypes to be the most stable. Most of the AMMI stability statistics showed biological stability, but the SIPCF statistics of AMMI model had agronomical concept stability. The AMMI stability value (ASV) identified genotype FLIP 92-12L as a more stable genotype, which also had high mean performance. Such an outcome could be regularly employed in the future to delineate predictive, more rigorous recommendation strategies as well as to help define stability concepts for recommendations for lentil and other crops in the Middle East and other areas of the world.