Stability Analysis of Six Improved Sorghum Genotypes across Four Environments in the Southern Guinea Savanna Agroecological Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Six sorghum genotypes from the Institute for Agric Research Zaria were evaluated for stability
study in four environments in the Southern Guinea Savanna in the 2009 & 2010 cropping
seasons using Randomized Complete Block Designs (RCBD) with four replications in each of
the locations. Analysis of Variance was carried out for each set of data collected and where
significant difference was observed, mean separations was done using Duncan Multiple
Range test. The regression coefficient (b) of Finlay and Wilkinson (1966), ecovalence (W2
)
and mean squares of deviation from regression (S2
d) of Eberhart and Russel (1966) were used
as stability parameters. The highest yield genotype was SSV2006019 (6.06t/ha) while the least
yield was SSV2006043 (4.02t/ha), based on the stability parameters, Genotypes SSV2006019,
SSV2006039 and SSV2006040 with ecovalence values of 0.28, 0.003 and 0.14 and b values of
0.99, 0.84 and 1.01 respectively appeared to be stable and adapted to the test environments
while SSV2006002 and SSV2006006 with yield values of 4.82 and 4.47t/ha respectively
appears to be good for poor environments.