Yield stability analysis of pearl millet genotypes in arid region of India using AMMI and GGE biplot

Aim: To assess genotypes with ability to sustain yields under arid region and to understand the significance of interactive effects of genotype x environment to develop resilient cultivars for rainfed farming. Methodology: Performances of 12 pearl millet varieties and hybrids released for commercial cultivation in India, were estimated using RBD with three replications during rainy seasons of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The trials were conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, ANGRAU, Ananthapuramu, located in the Scarce Rainfall Zone of Andhra Pradesh, India, with an average annual rainfall of nearly 553 mm and 300 mm to 400 mm during rainy season. Results: The environment and genotype effects were highly significant in the Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model, implying that environments are varied and genotypes performed differently in each environment offering a great scope for selecting better adaptive genotypes. Apart from moisture stress, the amount of rainfall received during both the anthesis and grain maturation stages were influenced grain yield through plant height, 1000grain weight and dry fodder yield. Environment 3 was the best discriminating environment and the hybrids Pratap, 86M86 and NBH 5767 had outperformed the popular open pollinated varieties in ideal conditions. Interpretation: In terms of grain yield,Pusa Comp. 612 and Pratap have proved to be reliable and had a mean higher than the general mean over environments. As a result, Pusa Comp. 612 and Pratap are suggested for large-scale assessment in a wide range of locations in rainfed situations of arid regions.