Yield Stability Analysis of Large-Seeded Common Bean Varieties in Major Bean Growing Areas of Ethiopia

Abstract

Twenty large seeded common bean varieties released over two decades were evaluated at five locations in 2017 main cropping seasons in Ethiopia.  The objective of the study was to determine the magnitude and pattern of G × E interaction and yield stability. The study was conducted using a  randomized complete block design with three replications. G × E interaction and yield stability were estimated using AMMI and GGE stability  methods. Pooled analysis of variance for grain yield showed significant differences at p ≤ 0.01 among the main effects of genotypes and  environments and at (p ≤ 0.01) for G × E interaction effects. This indicated that either the genotypes differentially responded to the changes in the  test environments or the test environments discriminated the genotypes or both. Environment effect accounted for 43.05% of the total yield  variation; whereas, genotype and G × E interaction effects accounted for 26.27% and 30.67%, respectively. Environmental variation contributes a  high percent to the total variability which indicates that differences among environments were the major reason for a different performance on  grain yield. GEI variance was a little higher than a genetic variance. The first two principal components accounted for cumulative 71.67% interaction  effects, which, indicated the majority of interaction effects were within two principal components. The AMM and GGE models identified genotypes  G10, G1, G3, and G18 that display higher grain yield and stability. The five testing locations were grouped into two mega environments, namely; Arsi  Negele, Haramaya, and Sirinka as one group with ‘G13'and ‘G14' as the best genotypes, and Alem Tena and Melkassa as the second group with  G19 (DAB-107) as the best genotype. Hence, it can be recommended that a rigorous breeding effort is aimed at the development of enhanced  populations and the release of stable and high yielding genotypes.