Stability analysis of yield component traits in 25 durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes under contrasting irrigation water salinity

• Published in: Agricultural water management 2015-04, Vol.152, p.1-6
• Main Authors: Chamekh, Zoubeir, Karmous, Chahine, Ayadi, Sawsen, Sahli, Ali, Hammami, Zied, Belhaj Fraj, Makram, Benaissa, Nadhira, Trifa, Youssef, Slim-Amara, Hajer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Grain yield; Grains; Improved genotypes; Irrigation; Landrace; Saline; Salinity; Stability; Stability analysis; Stability traits; Straw; Straw yield; Triticum aestivum; Triticum durum; Wheat
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2014.12.009

•Reduction in grain yield linearly correlated with increased water salinity.•Yield components for 25 genotypes evaluated, with improved genotype Maali the best.•Improved genotypes outperform landraces across the range of salinity and aridity. Stable straw and grain yield constituted a challenging objective for breeders to cope with environmental changes as salinity increase. For this purpose, an assessment of grain yield (GY) and yield components stability of 25 durum wheat genotypes was conducted in three semi-arid sites differing by their irrigation water salinity: Echbika (S1, 6dSm−1), Barrouta (S2, 12dSm−1) and Sidi Bouzid (S3, 18dSm−1) during three growing seasons (2010, 2011 and 2012). A significant average effect (P≤0.05) of sites×genotypes was observed for all measured parameters. GY was the most salinity affected trait showing decrease of 20% in S2, and 50% in S3 compared to control conditions in S1. A significant linear regression exists between GY at control site S1 and GY at saline site S2 (R2=0.79; P