RELATIVE USEFULNESS OF STABILITY PARAMETERS IN ASSESSING ADAPTABILITY IN RICE

Abstract

Twelve rice varieties were grown under 30 environments created through the combination of different dates of seeding, methods of planting, doses of fertilizer and growing seasons. The stability of performance for grain yield of the varieties was assessed using nine different parameters. Variations due to genotypes, environments, and genotype x environment interactions were highly significant and a large portion of these interactions was due to linear regression. Highly significant mean squares were observed for linear as well as nonlinear components. The genotypes were grouped into low, medium and high stability classes for each of the nine parameters and numerically scored on three-point scale. It was evident from the computation of total score that the parameters X, b, s~, and a were adequate in assessing the yield stabilityof the genotypes. Five varieties, Annapuma, Parijat, Sarathi, Keshari, and IR 36, were the most stable genotypes with high yield potential.