Selection of Stable High-yielding Fine Grain Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes Using AMMI, WAASB, and Multi-Trait Stability Indices
Abstract
Fine-grain rice is highly preferred by consumers due to its superior cooking quality and higher market price. Consequently, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed several fine-grain rice genotypes through its breeding programs. This study evaluated the yield performance and stability of nine advanced fine-grain rice lines along with two local cultivars and five released varieties across ten agro-ecological zones during the 2023–24 Boro season. Genotype–environment interaction (GEI) for grain yield (GY) and yield-related traits was analyzed using the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model, the Weighted Average of Absolute Scores and Yield (WAASBY) index, and the Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI). Combined analysis of variance revealed that genotype, environment, and GEI significantly influenced grain yield and its components. Most traits exhibited moderate to high heritability (0.74–0.97) with selection accuracy above 80%, indicating strong genetic control. Among the tested genotypes, BR17-23-8-2-7B (G6) recorded the highest mean yield, while Bhanga, Faridpur (E3) was identified as the most favorable environment. Stability analyses indicated that G6 ranked highest based on WAASBY (91.45), whereas BRH11-7-17-10B (G7) and BRH9-3-2B (G8) were identified as the most stable genotypes according to MTSI. Overall, G6, G7, and G8 showed superior performance compared with the local and released varieties, suggesting their potential for cultivation and use in breeding programs targeting diverse agro-ecological environments. Bangladesh Rice J.29(1): 1-17, 2025