Comprehensive analysis of stability in rice genotypes for dry weight and grain yield under multi-environment stress

Increasing agricultural productivity and efficient use of limited nutrient resources with significant yield improvement is vital for sustainable agriculture. Phosphorus is the second most important macronutrient for crop growth next to nitrogen and its uptake varies under water-limited and irrigated conditions. However, identifying stable and high-yielding rice genotypes under varied phosphorus levels in combination with differences in water level is vital for current strategies on sustainability. Given this, 145 rice genotypes were raised in four different environments and characterized for phosphorus uptake traits, as well as grain yield and its related traits. Studies on correlation revealed that plant height and number of productive tillers exhibited a positive association with grain yield. Performed stability analysis and calculated stability parameters for dry weight and grain yield. Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model exposed the best performers as G115 and G47 for dry weight whereas G14 and G1 for grain yield. Based on the Genotype-by-Environment interaction (GGE) biplot, the winning genotypes for dry weight and grain yield were G14 and G1, respectively. Based on the yield stability index parameter, the best performer for dry weight was G27 and grain yield was G14. Ideal ranking of environments revealed that E1 for dry weight and E3 for grain yield can discriminate the genotypes. According to our results, the genotypes identified could be utilized to develop sustainable varieties.