Stability analysis for nut yield and component traits in cashew

Abstract

Thirteen cashew genotypes developed at different Cashew Research Stations of India, i.e. NRCC Sel.-1, NRCC Sel.-2, M 44/3, M 15/4, BPP 3/33, BPP 10/19, BPP 30/1, BPP 3/28, H- 303, H-320, H-255, H-367 and H-68 were planted at 7.5 m apart during 1994 at Cashew Research Station, AICRP on Cashew, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha. Observations on various parameters like plant height (m), trunk girth (cm), canopy spread (m), flowering laterals per meter square, average nuts panicle-1, nut weight (g), apple weight (g), shelling percentage and nut yield plant-1 (kg) were recorded on four plants of each varieties for 14 years. Stability parameters for different characters were computed using the regression approach. There were considerable variations in yield and its contributing traits within genotypes, years and genotype × year interactions. Estimates of stability parameters revealed that no single genotype was stable for all the traits under study. The stability parameters for nut yield indicated that genotype H-320 was the most stable genotype among the group as it showed high yield per se performance, thus can be recommended for commercial cultivation along with regression coefficient around unity but the deviation from regression line was significantly different from zero. Whereas, BPP-3/28 and BPP-3/33 exhibited high shelling percentage with high mean performance for all vegetative growth characters, though low mean performance for nut yield, which can be utilized as parent in crop improvement programme with special reference to increase shelling percentage.