Investigating Stability Parameters for Agronomic and Quality Traits of Durum Wheat Grown under Mediterranean Conditions

Durum wheat in the Mediterranean grows under rainfed conditions, where unpredictable climatic conditions result in substantial variation in grain yield and quality. Climate change intensifies Genotype x Environment interactions and urges breeders to escalate their efforts to breed cultivars combining high performance and stability. The current study aimed to appraise the relations between twelve stability parameters derived by different statistical models for yield, yield-related and quality traits of durum wheat grown under Mediterranean conditions. Stability parameters were estimated in two experiments of twenty and sixteen cultivars, respectively. The parameters were categorized into three groups. Group A included Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI)-derived parameters (ASV and AWAI), Wrickle's ecovalence (Wi), Shukla's stability variance (sigma(2)), and the nonparametric parameters Si-(1) and Si-(2). Group B included regression parameters (bi, Bi_A), Coefficient of Variance (CV), and Superiority measure (Pi). Group C encompassed deviation from regression parameters (s(2)di-DJi) when the heterogeneity of the slope was significant. Correlations between stability parameters for different traits and the between stability parameters and the traits per se were modest. Stability parameters of Group B had higher repeatability for grain yield. The results of the present study contribute to the adjustment of durum wheat breeding strategies.

Automated summary

Durum wheat in the Mediterranean is influenced by unpredictable climatic conditions, resulting in variations in grain yield and quality. This study aimed to assess the relationships between different stability parameters derived from statistical models and various traits of durum wheat. The stability parameters were categorized into three groups and estimated in two experiments. The correlations between stability parameters and traits were modest, and stability parameters from Group B showed higher repeatability for grain yield. The results contribute to the adjustment of durum wheat breeding strategies.