Stability models regulate the adaptation of male sterility-based chilli hybrids for agro-ecologically diverse regions of north-western Himalayas.

Chilli cultivars are highly sensitive to diverse agroclimatic conditions and the present investigation provide a significant contribution by identifying high-yielding and stable hybrids for wider adaptation. The study was conducted in seven diverse environments by following conventional farming under field conditions in five locations of North-western Himalaya along with naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions using conventional and natural farming practices using 16 genotypes to identify the most stable ones for fruit yield and its attributes. Joint regression and AMMI analysis revealed significant Genotype × Environment interaction for all the traits. Eberhart and Russel (E-R) model revealed DPCHYB 10 (627.68 g/plant) and DPCHYB 5 (583.50 g/plant) as top ranked with stability for fruit yield. The AMMI1 biplot identified DPCHYB 2 as most resilient and productive across environments for fruit number and fruit yield which was also described by mean vs. stability biplot of GGE. Further, GGE suggested E5 (Berthin) as the most representative and discriminating environment for fruit yield. 'Which won where' biplot represented hybrid DPCHYB 10 as stable and high yielding with wider adaptability in most of the environments except Palampur (E1). DPCHYB 5 was the most responsive and adaptive in E1 that was also depicted as stable by E-R.