A robust non-parametric stability measure to select stable genotypes

Abstract

Climate change has a considerable influence on agricultural output, raising farmers’ production risk. Nevertheless, the risk can be mitigated by selecting stable genotypes. In countries such as India, where significant proportions of farmers are smallholders or operate on marginal land, the minimization of risk is of paramount importance. Existing methods of stability measures often result in low-yielding varieties. Consequently, there is a need to develop more effective stability strategy to solve this problem without reducing yield. In light of the preceding, the Rank Based Stability Index (RSI) has been proposed for choosing genotypes based on the rank of interaction residuals to mitigate the influence of climatic changes without compromising yield. Through statistical analyses, the RSI approach demonstrates its ability to discern stable genotypes resilient to environmental fluctuations. By evaluating genotype performance across multiple environments and seasons, RSI identifies cultivars with consistent yield performance, thus offering a valuable tool for enhancing crop resilience and ensuring food security. The effectiveness of the proposed RSI approach for selecting stable genotypes from groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) data has been notably demonstrated in comparison to other methods. RSI emerges as a promising methodology for genotype selection in groundnut, offering a robust framework for mitigating the influence of climatic changes on crop yields.