Evaluation of released tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] varieties for the adaptability and stability using univariate stability parameters

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to identify high yielding and stable tef varieties using univariate parametric and non-parametric stability parameters and to find out association among stability methods. Eight released tef varieties were obtained from tef breeding program based at Debre zeit Agricultural Research center and evaluated in 2019 main cropping season. The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design in three replication across six locations. Data for all relevant agronomic traits were collected, but only plot yield data converted to qt/ha was subjected to statistical analysis. Result revealed that the most stable genotype according to the parametric and non-parametric methods was Abola,Heber-1 and Kora. Varieties Negus and Gibe were unstable according to both parametric and non-parametric methods. The result shows that both the parametric and nonparametric methods gave a relatively similar result but it is based on one data set. So to prove that both the parametric and nonparametric methods give a relatively similar result, it needs simulation study. In conclusion, several stability statistics that have been used in this study quantified stability of genotypes with respect to either yield level, stability, or both. Therefore, both yield and its stability should be considered simultaneously to exploit the useful effect of GE interaction and to make selection of the genotypes more precise.