STABILITY ANALYSIS FOR YIELD AND COMPONENT CHARACTERS IN RICE-BEAN (VIGNA-UMBELLATA)

An experiment was conducted during 1988-91 to study the stability parameters for yield and 3 component characters in 11 genotypes of ricebean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi & Ohashi]. Genotype x environment (G x E) interaction was significant for pods/plant, clusters/plant, pod length and yield/plant. Both linear and non-linear components were predominant in G x E interaction for all the characters, except for clusters/plant where linear component accounted for most of the G x E interactions. Genotypes 'RB 49' (19.89 g/plant) and 'RB 40' (20.40 g/plant) were high yielding and most stable for all the characters and could be utilized in a breeding programme. No significant correlation was observed among the 3 stability parameters (mean, bi and S2 di ) for all the characters. These parameters may therefore be considered while breeding stable varieties of ricebean.