Non-parametric Measures for Yield Stability in Gras s Pea ( Lathyrus sativus L.) Advanced Lines in Semi Warm Regions

Abstract

Multi-environment trials play a significant role in selecting the best cultivars to be used at different locations. The objective of this study was to identify grain and forage yields stability of grass pea advanced lines across differ ent locations. The 14 advanced lines of grass pea, developed by the International Center fo r Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), were tested at three different research s tations in semi-warm regions of Iran for three consecutive years. Ten non-parametric mea sures of stability were used to identify stable lines across nine environments. Thr ee non-parametric tests (Bredenkamp, Hildebrand and De Kroon and Van der Laan) for Genot ype-Environment (GE) interaction were highly significant, recommending di fferential responses of the lines to the test environments. Mean yields had a significant po sitive correlation with S i (6) , NP2, NP3, NP4, Fox-rank and Kang’s rank-sum statistics. The r esults of correlation analysis and principal components analysis indicated that only n on-parametric superiority measure could be useful for simultaneous selection of high yielding and stable lines. According to cluster analysis by forage and grain mean yields an d non-parametric statistics, the line L3 with the highest forage and grain yields and Fox-ra nk as well as the lowest values of other non-parametric statistics could be introduced as hi gh yielding stable cultivar for rain-fed conditions of semi-warm areas. Keywords: Fox-rank, GE interaction, Rain-fed conditions, Interaction effec t, Grass pea.