Revelation of Genotype × Environment Interaction in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Under Conventional and Natural Farming Production Systems in the North-Western Himalayas

The development of superior genotypes for use in plant breeding programmes is significantly influenced by the genotype in environment (G × E) interaction. The effects of G × E complicate the improvement of linseed as an important oilseed crop. The present study aimed at assessing the G × E interaction of 30 linseed genotypes for seed yield traits and oil content under conventional and zero-budget natural farming conditions across four locations for two consecutive years (16 different environments) in the North-Western Himalayan region. The AMMI model was used to estimate G × E interaction in the present study. The highest contribution to the total variance belonged to G × E interaction (34.75%), followed by genotype main effects (34.28%). Based on the IPCA1 scores, the most stable genotypes identified with high mean performance for oil content were KL-257 and Nagarkot, and for seed yield, Giza-7 was the most promising genotype. However, genotypes KL-280, KL-285, and Giza-8 showed specific adaptation to the natural production system environments in both years for oil content at locations of Palampur, Bajaura, and Kangra, respectively. Therefore, these genotypes could be recommended specifically under the natural production system in the respective locations. However, the genotypes with stable oil content did not have stable seed yields as well. None of the genotypes that exhibited high oil content stability also exhibited good seed yield stability. In terms of the environment, Palampur was recognised as a favourable location for oil content based on the above average performance, whereas Kangra and Dhaula Kuan were found to be unfavourable locations. In terms of discriminating ability, the natural production system at Palampur showed the highest discrimination, whereas Dhaula Kuan was revealed as the least discriminating environment. These stable and high oil-yielding genotypes are valuable genetic resources for linseed breeding programs for reduced input conditions and marginal environments.