Adaptability and stability of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties using AMMI, genotype by yield*trait, and MGIDI analyses

Wheat (Triticuma aestivum L.) is roughly one-fifth of people’s daily dietary intake worldwide contributing significantly to food security. One of the most significant barriers to wheat production in Ethiopia is the lack of adaptable genotypes. Therefore, this research was initiated to assess adaptable bread wheat varieties using multiple traits. The experiment was conducted at the highlands of western Tigray in the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. 15 released varieties were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant and plot-based data were recorded, from which combined ANOVA, AMMI ANOVA, genotype by yield*trait (GYT), and multi-trait genotype ideotype distance index (MGIDI) were analyzed using R software. Highly significant ( P ≤ 0.001) variation among genotypes, environments, and genotype-by-environment interactions was observed. G13 (5147.61 kg/ha), followed by G12 (4422.95 kg/ha) was the highest-yielding variety, and G5 was the lowest-yielding (3530.54 kg/ha) variety. All the yield components except days to maturity and harvest index were positively associated with grain yield. The AMMI1 biplot selected G13 and G12 as high-yielding genotypes, respectively, while the AMMI2 biplot identified G3 and G14 as the most stable genotypes. Based on the genotype by yield*trait analysis, G13 and G6 are superior based on the superiority index. The which-won-where view, average tester coordination, and genotype ranking biplots of the GYT biplots identified G13 as the most desirable genotype. Based on the MGIDI index and MGIDI plot, G13 is the most desired genotype. According to most of the deployed stability analyses, G13 is strongly recommended for further demonstration and popularization.