Stability assessment of jute seed production system in lower Gangetic plains of India.

Highlights • Environments had significant influence on seed yield of jute varieties. • Mean seed yield of 7.40 q ha−1 was recorded over a period of five years. • High performance-years were suitable for S-19, JRO- 8432, JRO-524 and JRC-517. • The varieties JBO-2003H, JRC-698, JRO-204, JRO-8432 and S-19 were highly stable. • The varieties S-19 and JRO-8432 were the most responsive genotypes. Abstract Seed is a critical input for jute crop as it is not feasible to get both the seed and fibre from the same crop. Seed scarcity is a major problem for jute growers as bast fibres are the economic product. Organized jute seed production is lacking in the lower Gangetic plains zone of India, although being a major fibre growing region. Therefore, seed production potential of jute was tested under this agro-climatic zone. Ten jute varieties representing two cultivated species viz., C. capsularis and C. olitorius were evaluated for five years. This paper compares the traditional models i.e., Linear regression model with the latest GGE Biplot methodology, displaying both Genotype (G) and Genotype × Environment (GE), which are the two sources of variation that are relevant to varietal evaluation. Pooled analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant environmental effect. General mean seed yield of 7.40 qha−1 was recorded. Two environments and five varieties recorded positive index. Four varieties S–19, JRO–8432, JRO–524 and JRC–517 were grouped as adapted to high performance environments. Five varieties namely JBO–2003H, JRC–698, JRO–204, JRO–8432 and S–19 were grouped as highly-stable. The variety JRO–524 was grouped as least-stable for seed yield. The varieties S- 19 and JRO- 8432 were suitable over all environments and hence, can be recommended for - for seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]