AMMI Stability Analysis for Yield of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Genotypes

Black cumin is an erect annual herb cultivated for its seed, growing on all kinds of soils. In Ethiopia black cumin is cultivated as rain fed crop in the highlands from 1500 to 2500 meter s above sea level and the weather makes a suitable environment for the growth of black cumin seed. Genotype × environment interaction and yield stability analysis are important in measuring the genotypic yield stability and suitability for cultivation across seasons and ecological conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the stability of black cumin genotypes under the agroecological conditions of East Shoa and West Arsi zones. Fifteen black cumin genotypes were evaluated at six locations in randomized complete block design with three replications during 2018/19 cropping season. Analysis of variance for each location revealed the presence of significant differences among genotypes for seed yield. The combined analysis of variance over locations showed significant differences amongst genotypes. Gammachis variety was recorded with the highest mean yield (1.35 ton ha-1) followed by Dirshaye (1.26 ton ha-1) while genotype 90575-2 was recorded with the lowest (0.78 ton ha-1) mean seed yield. Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction analysis of variance had showed that most of the total variations (41.99%) was attributed to the environmental effects and the rest were attributed to the genotypic effects (31.96%) and the GEI (10.96%). AMMI stability analysis identified variety Dirshaye as the most stable genotype whereas genotype MAB-057 was the most unstable genotype. In general, genotypes (such as Dirshaye, Gammachis, Soressa and Derbera) should be used for cultivation at all the test locations since they perfomed well as compared to the other tested black cumin