Abstract
Nine finger millet varieties (eight improved varieties and one locally adapted cultivar) of different maturity duration were tested in six hill environments to study the genotype x environment (g x e) interaction effects on grain yield using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. The genotype x environment interaction significantly influenced the relative performance of varieties across the locations. The first two principal component axes (PCA1 and PCA 2) accounted for 90% of the total genotype and environment interaction. PCA structure revealed that altitude of a location and maturity duration of the varieties were mainly responsible for significant g x e interactions. Finger millet variety VL 149 exhibited both higher mean yield and high stability of performance across the environments. Bi-plot display of first two principal component axes revealed that all the medium duration finger millet varieties were more suited to farmers’ field. Therefore under a varietal development programme, more emphasis should be given to development of high yielding medium duration finger millet varieties for hills, rather than on early and late duration high yielding varieties. The AMMI model with a bi-plot display visualized the overall pattern of GE interactions.
