Assessment of G x E interaction for yield and yield-attributing traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

G × E interaction was assessed for seed yield per plant and its attributing traits like number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, protein content and 100-seed weight in sixteen chickpea genotypes across three environments during rabi, 2023. The genotypes were sown on three different sowing dates viz., 20th October (E1), 10th November (E2) and 30th November (E3). The estimates of environmental indices revealed that first environment was the most favourable environment for all the characters, i.e., sowing date 20th October was the optimum sowing date. The genotypes and the environments showed significant variations, when the characters were tested against the G × E interaction. Genotype × Environment (linear) when tested against pooled error was significant for all the characters, except protein content, indicating that the prediction of performance of genotypes over the three environments could be possible. This suggests that it is feasible to predict how a genotype behaves in a given environment. The genotypes viz., Phule Vikram, PG-1609-4-19, PG-1628-15-13, PG-1517-1-8 and Digvijay showed average stability for seed yield per plant. The genotype PG-211110 recorded above average stability for the trait number of pods per plant. The genotype PG-1521-12-2 recorded below average stability for the character 100-seed weight. The five genotypes viz., Phule Vikram, Digvijay, PG-1609-4-19, PG-1628-15-13and PG-1517-1-8 exhibited average stability for seed yield per plant along with other yield contributing traits.