Identification of High-Performing and Stable Pearl Millet Genotypes Using Multi-trait Stability Index

To identify the best crop genotypes for recommendation to breeders, and eventually, for use in breeding, evaluation is usually done in field trials in a variety of environments, called multi-environment trials. This study aims to identify stable sources of yield and its component traits across various environments to ensure the long-term breeding progress of pearl millet. To find stable genotypes for cropping under various environmental conditions, 37 genotypes of pearl millet were examined from 2014 to 2016 growing seasons in nine diverse environments, including Delhi, Dharwad, and Jodhpur. The stability of the pearl millet was assessed for eight yield component traits and two nutritional traits using the weighted average of absolute scores biplot (WAASB) for the best linear unbiased predictions of the genotype–environment interaction and the multi-trait stability index (MTSI). Based on the WAASBY index, the genotypes G36, G25, G23, G18, G16, G15, and G1 are selected as the productive and stable genotypes for SYPP. Out of 37 pearl millet genotypes, MTSI analysis for several environments showed that the genotypes G16, G15, G26, G34, G4, and G17 were the most stable and high yielding. It is concluded that identified genotypes can be used as parents in breeding programs for the development of high-yielding breeding material across the environments. The current study's findings suggested that MTSI, which is a powerful and straightforward selection technique, may be useful to plant breeders for the selection of genotypes based on a variety of traits.