Stability and Adaptability Analysis in Sunflower from Eight Locations in Pakistan

Stability of fifteen selected sunflower genotypes across eight environments (locations) in Pakistan with respect to oil yield was tested. On the basis of six different stability measures, genotypes such as SF-187, SMH-269, SC-110 and PSH-21 were found as stable genotypes with respect to oil yield (kg ha-1). Further to group the genotypes having similar response pattern over all environments and to group similar environments over all sunflower genotypes, Ward`s fusion strategy of hierarchical clustering technique was used on sunflower genotypes x environments (G x E) data. It was observed that genotypes SMH-32 and SMH-112 are different from remaining genotypes over all environments, but in the largest group-7 genotypes, Hysun-33, SF-270 and SMH-269 have similar response pattern (w.r.t. oil yield) over all environments. Similarly, it was observed that among eight environments, NARC and Sariab were similar, Kot. Diji and Dunya Pur were similar, Tando Jam and Faisalabad were similar and D.I.K. and Tarnab were found similar with respect to oil yield in sunflower over all genotypes. Performance plots used to illustrate each genotype group`s performance (w.r.t. oil yield) in a series of environment groups. The results showed that genotypes group-1 (Hysun-341 and NK-265) and genotypes group-2 (SF-187 and NK-277) consistently performed well over Kot Diji, Dunya Pur, Tando Jam and Faisalabad environments. Genotype SMH-32 was found to be better in performance at NARC and Sariab.