Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analyses of yield performance in rice genotypes for general and specific adaptation to salt stress in locations in India

The aim of this study was to identify stable rice genotypes tolerant to a salt stress environment and to identify ideal mega-environments using AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) stability model analysis. A total of 13 rice genotypes and three salt tolerance checks were evaluated across 13 salt stress locations (alkaline and saline) for the two kharif seasons of 2014 and 2015. Genotype CSR 36 (CHK3) was found to be the most ideal of those tested. Genotypes CHK2 (CST 27) and IR 87952-1-1-1-2-3-B (G05) were found to be the most stable, with above average yields. The check CSR 36 (CHK3) genotype was the best performer in the majority of the environments studied, followed by CSR 27 (CHK2) and IR 87952-1-1-1-2-3-B (G05) which were the best genotypes in the mega-environment consisting of 21 environments evaluated across stress locations and year combinations. Overall, the most promising genotype (IR 87952-1-1-1-2-3-B) had high mean yield and stability and could be used for commercial cultivation or used as donor for breeding programs across salt-affected soils. The genotypes GN13 (IR 87938-1-1-2-1-3-B) and GN11 (IR 87938-1-2-2-1-3-B) showed 60–80% yield advantage at specific salt stress locations, showing that these genotypes could be used for specific environments of salt-affected soils in India.