Genotype × environment interaction for morphological and quality traits of wheat varieties under different nitrogen regimes in the foothills of Shivalik range of Himalayas

Abstract

Variation among twelve winter wheat varieties with respect to N efficiency (NE) were assessed in field trial planned as per factorial experimental design (two years × three nitrogen doses × twelve genotypes) in which treatments were randomized in three replications under three nitrogen levels (control, 150, 250 kg/ha) for two successive years at N. E. Borlaug Crop Research Center, Pantnagar. Stability analysis of nitrogen efficiency contributing traits was performed using mean performance, linear regression and the deviation from regression. No single genotype performed well enough for all the traits under study. QLD 33, HD 2967 and QLD 39 were stable for root length showing good performance for nitrogen uptake. HD 3112 was most stable variety for most of the characters whereas, QLD 33 was found to perform best under higher levels of nitrogen fertilisation, thus, not efficient enough. But, QLD 33 showed delayed maturity which could be linked with an increase in grain yield thus, it could be said that functional stay green phenotypes should increase the grain filling period and boost yield.