Assessment of stability and yield performance of onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes across diverse Indian environments

Sep 30, 2026

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Onion productivity in India is shaped by strong genotype × environment interaction (GEI), making stable, high-yield cultivar identification difficult. Nineteen onion genotypes were tested in multi-environment trials across six diverse locations over two consecutive kharif seasons (2023–24). Combined ANOVA confirmed significant genotype, environment, and GEI effects. AMMI analysis highlighted RO-1771, RO-1768, and RO-1774 as stable, high-yield genotypes, while Junagadh (E3) best represented and discriminated environments. GGE biplot principal components explained 83.86% of GEI variation, and Bhima Dark Red (G18) showed consistently superior stability and yield, with results supporting breeding decisions for diverse Indian agro-climates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Genotype × environment interaction challenges

Statistical approaches for stability and adaptability

Research gap in Indian multi-location evaluation

Objectives and study design

Multi-environment trials across locations and seasons

Analysis using GGE biplot and AMMI

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN Assessment of stability and yield performance of onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes across diverse Indian environments Amar Jeet Gupta1􀀍, Anil Khar2, KavyaV. Aribenchi1, Supriya Kaldate1, Hem Raj Bhandari1, PranjaliA. Gedam1, Yogesh P. Khade1, Rajiv B. Kale1 & Vijay Mahajan1 Onion productivity in India is strongly influenced by genotype × environment interaction (GEI), complicating the identification of stable and high-yielding cultivars. Nineteen onion genotypes were evaluated in multi-environment trials across six diverse locations during two consecutive kharif seasons (2023–24), with locations treated as six distinct environments (E1-E6) . Combined ANOVA revealed significant effects of genotypes, environments, and their interactions, indicating substantial GEI. AMMI analysis identified RO-1771 (G15), RO-1768 (G13), and RO-1774 (G17) as the most stable and high-yielding genotypes, while Junagadh (E3) was the most representative and discriminating environment. The first two principal components of the GGE biplot explained 83.86% of total GEI variation, efficiently capturing interaction patterns. Among the genotypes,‘Bhima Dark Red’(G18) consistently showed superior yield and stability, followed by RO-1768 and RO-1774, which also demonstrated broad adaptability. Junagadh was identified as an ideal site for both cultivation and varietal testing. Collectively, the GGE and AMMI analyses revealed that Bhima Dark Red (G18), RO- 1768 (G13), and RO-1774 (G17) combined high yield with stability across multiple environments. These findings provide valuable guidance for onion breeding programs and support the development of cultivars adapted to diverse Indian agro-climatic conditions. Keywords Onion, GGE biplot, AMMI, Stability, GEI, Bulb yield Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most extensively grown and economically important vegetable crops worldwide1. In India, it is an integral part of daily cuisine and is often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Kitchen’2. The bulb is rich in bioactive compounds and serves as a potent antioxidant, with extensive use in both fresh consumption and food processing3,4. According to FAOSTAT5, India has recently emerged as the world’s largest onion producer, surpassing China, with an estimated output of 30.21 million tons from 1.74 million hectares. The growing demand for onion is driven by its nutritional value and health-promoting constituents, including essential minerals (K, P, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe) and vitamins from the B, C, and E groups6. Historically, onions have also played an important role in traditional medicine, being recognized for their therapeutic properties in treating fever, bronchitis, and cardiovascular ailments, as well as for their diuretic, digestive, and lipid-lowering effects6,7. Despite its economic and nutritional significance, onion productivity in India remains highly variable across regions and seasons, primarily due to strong genotype × environment interaction (GEI) effects. With increasing demand and the challenges posed by climate change, the development of high-yielding, stable, and climateresilient cultivars has become a critical breeding objective8. The success of onion improvement programs depends on identifying genotypes that maintain consistent performance across diverse environments. However, many genotypes show unpredictable yield stability, reflecting the complex interplay between genetic potential and environmental variability9–11. To address this, breeders routinely conduct multi-environment trials (METs) across sites and years to evaluate genotype adaptability prior to cultivar release12, 13. Reliable interpretation of MET data requires robust statistical tools capable of partitioning GEI and identifying stable genotypes14. Several multivariate approaches such as principal component analysis (PCA), the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model, 1Depar

FAQs

Why is genotype × environment interaction important for onion breeding in India?

Onion yield varies strongly with genotype × environment interaction (GEI), which complicates selecting cultivars that stay stable and high-yield across locations and seasons.

How were the onion genotypes evaluated in the study?

Nineteen genotypes were evaluated in multi-environment trials across six locations over two consecutive kharif seasons (2023–24), with locations treated as six environments (E1–E6).

Which genotypes were identified as the most stable and high-yielding?

AMMI analysis identified RO-1771, RO-1768, and RO-1774 as the most stable and high-yielding genotypes. GGE results also showed Bhima Dark Red (G18) with consistently superior yield and stability.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Jacob