Genotype X Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis in Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for Growth and Yield Performances in Southwest Nigeria

Genotype x environment interaction and stability analysis for growth and yield performances of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) were carried out by growing ten varieties of kenaf (a newly developed kenaf variety; Ife Ken DI 400 alongside with other two improved varieties developed in Nigeria, two exotic improved varieties, four lines and one local). The trials were conducted in the three research stations of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation Ibadan. The research stations are located at Ikenne (high rain forest agro-ecology), Ibadan (transitional rain forest agro-ecology) and Ilora (derive savanna agro-ecology) in 2007 and 2008. Combined analysis of variance showed that there were significant (P < 0.05) differences among the cultivars, locations, cultivar x year and year x location interactions for the traits investigated. Influence of year and cultivar x location and cultivar x location x year were not significant. There were significant differences in plant height, basal diameter, fiber yield and core yield among the cultivars, significant differences among locations in fiber yield and core yield and there were significant cultivar x year and year x location interactions for fiber yield and core yield. For stability analysis, the most stable cultivars in fiber yield and core yield were the improved varieties. For the fiber yield and core yield the most stable variety among the improved varieties was Ife Ken DI 400, followed by Ife Ken 400 and Ife Ken 100, while the fourth ranked stabled variety was Cuba 108. The most unstable improved variety was Tainung-1. Among the lines, AC 313-293 was most stable; it ranked seventh, while G 45-2 was regarded as most unstable cultivar followed by Local 35 and 2QQ 174 that ranked eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.