Evaluation of Compatibility and Stability of Grain Yield and Evaluation of Some Agronomic Characteristics of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes in Rainfed Conditions

Due to the increase in population and unfavorable environmental conditions, especially various stresses and the problem of water scarcity, evaluation of plant genotypes in various environments is inevitable. The interaction effect of the genotype and environment can be used as a mean by plant breeders to select the best genotypes/cultivars in plant growth environments (in one or more years).

In order to evaluate the stability of grain yield, this experiment was performed on 108 chickpea genotypes in the cropping years 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 in the form of a randomized complete block design. By carefully planting, holding and harvesting operations, during the growing season and postharvest, seed yield, 100-seed weight, plant height, number of days to 50% flowering, number of days to maturity, number of pods per plant, number of main branches was recorded.

The results of combined analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between the genotypes in terms of plant height, grain yield, number of pods per plant, number of main branches. Comparison of mean grain yield showed that genotype number 10 had the highest yield (54.038 gram).significancy of GE interaction effect showed the response of genotypes within various environments so then it is possible to perform the stability analysis of genotypes and for this reason, the GGE biplot was used in parallel with some findings of AMMI model and mixed AMMI model (AMMI in conjunction with BLUP) which GGE biplot resulted that first 2 components accounted for 76.3 percent of total variation of grain yield and in this context varieties 1, 26, 60 and 101 acconted as ideal ones and so genotypes 32, 69, 76, 89, 90, 94, 98 and 108 mentioned as suitable genotypes compared to other genotypes and that 4th enfironment (year 3-Kermanshah) mentioned as ideal environment.

Considering the superiority of some chickpea cultivars in this study in terms of both grain yield and yield stability, in 2 temperate and cold regions in terms of stability and high grain yield, these cultivars can be candidates to introduce the cultivar or be used as parents of crosses in future breeding programs of this plant.