Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and its components in lentil

The objective of this investigation is to determine the performance and stability of 24 lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) genotypes under a wide range of variable environments. The regression model and ecovalence (Wi) were used to analyze the response of the lentil genotypes to variable environmental conditions for yield and some of its components in six experiments in three seasons under two locations. Results indicated that both environmental conditions (E) and studied genotypic accessions (G) influenced significantly on the performance of yield and yield components. Moreover, the performance of genotypes varied highly significantly from environment to another for all traits, except 100 seed weight as proved by significance of G x E. Therefore, further stability analyses were performed for traits that recorded significant G x E. Four genotypes were stable for pods plant-1 either measured by Wi or S2d. For this trait, all genotypes were non responsive to environmental conditions except PL81-17 which may behave positively to pod bearing conditions. For seed yield plant-1 only Sinai 1 was significantly unstable measured by Wi and S2d, respectively. The significance of b's for seed yield feddan-1 proved that only 3 genotypes were responsive to environments. Two of them (XG88-17 and Giza 51) may behave better under good environments and the third (Giza 4) may be recommended under poor ones. It may be concluded in lentil breeding programs, which the performance of genotypes under each location should be evaluated firstly and those reliable ones will be tested for stability across various environmental conditions prior to recommendations.   Key words: Lentil, Lens culinaris