Abstract

Raman Rushidie *, Bal Chopra Kumar , Ambani Bshole Tata and Akbar Singh Ratan

Genotypic × environment (G × E) interactions in 35 indigenous line of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst Nicolson) were evaluated for two consecutive years of 2007 and 2008 under four environments in randomized block design (RBD) for yield, plant height, weight of corm, size of corm, dry matter and starch content. Mean squares deviation due to environment and environment linear variations were highly significant for all the traits. Linear component of genotype × environment interaction assumed importance for weight of corm, size of corm and yield. Thus, the prediction of the genotypes in the environments appeared to be feasible for all the characters under study. G × E interaction was found to be significant for dry matter and starch content indicating that these quality contributing traits were highly influenced by the change in environment leading to extension of analysis for estimating stability parameters. All traits significantly observed for environment + (genotype × environment) interaction confirming the influence of environment and suggesting the existence of considerable variation among genotypes as well as environments. On the basis of all three stability parameters (xi, bi and S2di), the genotype NDA-9 possesses high mean, nearer to unit regression and non-significant low deviation from regression. With respect to yield on the basis of all three adaptability parameters, it is evident that the genotype NDA-9 is stable as it possesses high mean, nearer to unit regression and non-significant low deviation from regression. Whereas the highest yielding genotype NDA-35 showed above average sensitivity and low deviation from regression, this genotype could be considered as a suitable for favorable environmental condition.