AMMI Model based Stability of Little millet [Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. & Schult.] Advanced Lines Evaluated across Eighteen Environments in India

Identification of superior and stable genotype for commercial cultivation is constrained majorly by the existence of genotype × environment interaction (GEI). Nine little millet advanced lines with checks, were employed over nine Indian locations throughout two rainy seasons during 2017 and 2018 to access the patterns of GEI governing traits viz., days to 50% flowering, early flowering and yield (seed & fodder). Statistical analysis (AMMI model and best linear unbiased predictors (BLUP) was performed. The variance due to genotype, environment and GEI was highly significant for all three traits. Environment attributed to a higher proportion of the variation (28.68%-73.44%), while genotypes contributed 1.41-47.30% of the total variation. The GEI contributed 24.00-27.79% of the total variation for all three traits. The testing environments were partitioned into four, three and two mega-environments for seed, fodder yield and days to 50% flowering, respectively. The environments E9, E13 and E6 were representative and discriminative for days to 50% flowering, seed and fodder yield, respectively and can be used to recognize superior early flowering genotypes with high seed and fodder yield adapted to specific agro-ecology. Check (OLM203) performed better than all the genotypes except the advanced line DHLT28-4 for seed and fodder yield, but it was late flowering. DHLT28-4 which is early flowering and most stable with high seed and fodder yielding cultivar can be commercialized in India as a better substitute for the existing varieties.