Genotype Stability and Yield Performance of Wheat in Barani Areas: An AMMI and GGE Biplot Approach

Wheat is a globally significant cereal crop, playing a vital role in ensuring food security. The cultivation of wheat under rain-fed (barani) conditions is practiced in many countries, achieving higher yields than in Pakistan due to the use of superior cultivars and advanced management practices. Enhancing wheat production in rain-fed regions requires the selection of appropriate cultivars, as varieties successful in other areas may not perform optimally under these conditions. Plant breeders are focused on increasing yield potential by developing stable and optimized genotypes. With Pakistan facing significant food security challenges due to rapid population growth, improving wheat yields in rain-fed areas is crucial. This study leverages yield data from systematically conducted annual multi-environment trials (MET) at the Barani Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) during 2021-22. The primary objective was to identify stable wheat genotypes through the analysis of this data. Fifteen wheat genotypes were evaluated using a RCB design across three diverse environments. The AMMI analysis was carried out in combination with other statistical methods for stability. The results identified genotypes 20C208, 20C206, 20C207, 20C209, and 20C205 as desirable wheat genotypes for higher yields in variable environments, due to their optimal combination of yield and stability. Among the areas studied, Attock area was found to be the best, followed by Chakwal area.