Abstract

Chickpea is the major pulse crop cultivated in Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained due to genotype instability and environmental variability.  This research was carried out to examine the magnitude of environmental effect on yield of chickpea genotypes and to investigate the stability and adaptability of genotypes under different agro-ecologies.  Twelve genotypes evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications in three locations for two continuative years. Various stability indices used to assess stability and genotype by environment performances. Combined analysis of variance for yield and yield components revealed highly significant (P≤0.01) differences for genotypes, environments and their interaction. Growing years do not show difference. The significant interaction showed genotypes respond differently across environments.  At Guduru, Hareto and Gitilo, top performing genotype in grain yield were genotype 229961 (2.33ton/ha), genotype 225887 (3.6ton/ha), and genotype 225887 (2.23/ha), respectively.  The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2), which were used to create a two-dimensional bi-plot, explained 7.5 and 3.75% of AMMI sum of squares, respectively. Hareto and Guduru are the most differentiating environments, while Gitilo is more responsive environment than the other environments since it is far away from the other in altitude.  Genotype 212476 and 212976 were the most stable as well as productive  at Hreto environment, genotype 229961 and 225887 were the most stable as well as productive at Guduru environment. Genotype 229959 and 215189 were stable with intermediate productive in both years and at three of the growing locations. Genotype 219804 and 225889 are less responsive. The best genotypes with respect to Guduru site are 229959 and 215189: the best genotype for environments with respect to Hareto was 212476 and 212976, and to Gitilo environment 229961 and 225887 genotypes.

Key words: Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), Desi-type, interaction, AMMI stability value (ASV).