Genotype x environment interaction in hedge lucerne (desmanthus virgatus (L.) willd.) for yield and quality

Abstract

The present work on “Genotype×Environment interaction in hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus (L.) Willd.) for yield and quality” was carried out across four locations in Kerala viz., College of Agriculture, Vellayani, College of Horticulture, Thrissur, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kottarakkara and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, during 2016-2018 with an objective to identify stable genotypes of Desmanthus virgatus in varied environments with respect to yield and quality. The eight genotypes of hedge lucerne viz., T1 (IC 345276), T2 (IC 343710), T3 (IC 89910), T4 (IC 261839), T5 (IC 90934), T6 (IC 421199), T7 (TNDV 1) and T8 (Thumburmuzhi local) were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications over four locations during 2017-2018. Eberhart and Russell model (1966) was used to analyze the stability and adaptability of yield and yield related characters of these genotypes. Based on the environmental indices, COA, Vellayani and RARS, Ambalavayal was found most favourable for all of the characters, while COH, Thrissur was unfavourable for all the characters studied. In the pooled analysis of variance for evaluation of hedge lucerne over locations, significant differences among the genotypes and environments were noticed for all the characters studied, suggesting that genotypes interacted significantly with environments. Stability analysis revealed that the genotype T1 (IC 345276) was stable over all locations for different characters such as plant height, number of branches, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, dry matter production and crude fibre. The genotype T4 (IC 261839) was stable for the characters number of branches, leaf to stem ratio and crude protein across the locations. The genotype T6 (IC 421199) was stable over locations for the characters viz., plant height, length of branches and number of leaves, while the genotype T7 (TNDV 1) was stable for leaf to stem ratio, number of pods and crude fibre. The genotypes T2 (IC 343710) and T8 (Thumburmuzhi local) were identified as stable genotypes for favourable environments. The genotype T2 (IC 343710) showed stable performance for the characters such as leaf to stem ratio, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield and crude fibre. The genotype T8 (Thumburmuzhi local) was stable in favourable environment for length of branches, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield and dry matter production. The genotype T5 (IC 90934) was found to be stable for the characters plant height and crude fibre in unfavourable environments. The present study revealed that the genotypes T1 (IC 345276), T4 (IC 261839), T6 (IC 421199) and T7 (TNDV 1) were stable over the four different locations viz., College of Agriculture, Vellayani, College of Horticulture, Thrissur, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kottarakkara and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal, Wayanad. The genotypes T2 (IC 343710) and T8 (Thumburmuzhi local) showed stable performance under favourable environments viz., College of Agriculture, Vellayani and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, while the genotype T5 (IC 90934) was suitable for unfavourable environment i.e., College of Horticulture, Thrissur.