Stability Analysis Over Different Environments in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Background: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oilseed crop whose productivity is strongly influenced by environmental variation and genotype × environment interaction. Identification of stable genotypes is therefore essential for improving yield consistency across diverse production conditions. Aim: The study aims to evaluate the stability of 25 sesame genotypes across three environments for seed yield and associated quantitative traits using the Eberhart and Russell stability model. Method: The experiment was conducted during kharif 2025 at Latur, Ambajogai, and Parbhani using a randomised complete block design with two replications. Ten quantitative traits were recorded, including days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, branches per plant, capsules per plant, capsule length, seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, oil content, and seed yield per plant. Data were analysed using analysis of variance and stability parameters. Results: Significant genotypic differences were observed for all traits across environments. Environmental effects were significant for most traits, while pooled deviation was significant for all traits except days to maturity. For seed yield per plant, TBS-9, TS-14, and AKT-101 recorded the highest mean values. Stability analysis identified TBS-5-1, TBS-7-3, and TLT-408 as stable under average environments, TBS-7-2 as adapted to favourable conditions, and V-21, TS-14, TLT-5, and AKT-101 as adapted to unfavourable conditions. Conclusion: The study demonstrated substantial variation in genotype performance and stability across environments. The identified genotypes may provide useful material for further multi-environment evaluation and breeding programmes aimed at improving yield stability in sesame.