Univariate parametric and nonparametric techniques for analyzing fiber quality and yield stability in Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)

The techniques used to evaluate the stability and adaptability of genotypes across environments and to study genotype-by-environment interactions (GEIs) are ever-evolving. In this sense, employing multiple approaches to measure the nature of the GEI from multiple aspects is frequently preferable rather than relying solely on a single analysis. A panel of 50 Gossypium barbadense genotypes was assessed over three years at the research sites using a randomized full-block design. The results of the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model indicated that the number of bolls (NB), single plant yield (SPY), fiber length (UHML), and fiber strength (FS) were significantly impacted by genotype, environment, and GEI. Based on the multiplicative effects analysis of AMMI into interaction principal components (IPCs), the studied traits had two significant components. The AMMI model predicted that the stable genotypes for NB were G30 (ICB13), G10 (ICB35), and G31 (ICB176), while those for SPY were G38 (ICB16), G34 (ICB244), G19 (ICB73), G29 (ICB207), and G41 (CCB11A). Genotypes, G23 (ICB262), G29 (ICB207), G7 (ICB220), and G21 (ICB143) for UHML and G19 (ICB73) and G39 (ICB39) for FS were considered to be stable. In this study, for yield traits, the E1 environment better differentiated the genotypes, whereas for quality traits, all three environments showed their discriminativeness. In terms of identifying highly stable and high-yielding genotypes, all of the SSI models were performed, which revealed that genotype G41 (CCB 41), an advanced breeding line, had good stability across environments with relatively high yields coupled with good fiber quality.