Abstract

The study was conducted with the objectives to determine the magnitude effect of genotype, environment, and their interactions on economically important traits and identify stable malt barley (Hordeum distichon L.) genotypes. Combined analysis of variance indicated that the main effects due to environment, genotype and GxE interaction were highly significant for grain yield and economically important malting quality triats indicated that development of both specific and wide adaptable varieties are essential. The GxE interaction of grain yield was further partitioned using AMMI and it showed the first two IPCA axes explained most of the sum of squares. According to stability analysis measures genotype G1 was the most stable whereas G13 showed specific adaptation in low potential environments. Protein content and seed size variability measures revealed G9 and G11 in protein content and G1 and G11 in seed size, respectively as the least varying genotypes across environments.

Key words: GxE interaction, kernel protein content, malting barley, stability analysis.