Genotype by environment interaction of bread wheat genotypes under timely and late sown planting conditions in central zone of India

Abstract The purpose of this study was to ascertain the genotype by environment interaction (GEI) of heat tolerance wheat genotypes. The objective was to inspect the stable wheat genotype for timely and late sown planting condition in central zone of India. For that total of 20 wheat genotypes, including two parents and three commercial checks, were tested across 6 (timely sown) + 4 (late sown) environments at Jabalpur, Narmadapuram, and Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh state of India in 2019-20 and 2021-21. The per plant yield and grain filling rate data were considered to perform univariate and multivariate stability analysis. Our result revealed that environment, genotype, and GEI effects were significant (P < 0.001) across all the environments and individual environmental conditions. The greater performing along with high stability for grain yield JW3288, L8 and L13 while for grain filling rate L11, L13 and L11 genotypes were identified in timely sown, late sown and across all the environments, respectively. In order to find stable and high-performing genotypes, the GEI accompanied by several models but AMMI and GGE models were further effective and accurate than the linear regression model. In conclusion according to univariate and multivariate stability analysis L13 was the utmost genotype across all the environments therefore, it might be used in future breeding programs although, Jabalpur was recognized as the most discriminating and representative environments across all the environments.