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Evaluation of seed yield stability of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) ecotypes using non-parametric statistics
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Hamid Reza Fanaei    , Manni Marefatzadeh-Khameneh , Majid Reza Kianei freez , Mohammad Taghi Feazbakhsh , Masoud Rafeei |
| Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran |
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Abstract: (39 Views) |
Introduction: Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual medicinal plant of the Ranunculaceae family, native to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, and is widely cultivated in Iran for its valuable oil, protein, alkaloids, and essential oils with proven anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Genotype × environment (G×E) interaction is a major challenge in plant breeding because it complicates the identification of high-yielding and yield-stable genotypes. Non-parametric stability methods are particularly useful when data are not normally distributed or when outlier genotypes are present, since they are based on yield ranking rather than distributional assumptions. While non-parametric statistics have been successfully applied in crops such as maize, safflower, lentil, and wheat, few studies have evaluated black cumin germplasm from the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this experiment, 36 black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) ecotypes were evaluated using randomized complete block design with three replications across four research stations in Iran (Karaj, Mashhad, Gorgan, and Lorestan) over two growing seasons (2022–23 and 2023–24). Combined analysis of variance was performed to assess the ecotype × environment interaction (with environment defined as the combination of year and location, i.e., eight environments). Non-parametric stability statistics were calculated including Huhn and Nassar (S(1), S(2), S(3), S(6)), Thennarasu (NP(1), NP(2), NP(3), NP(4)), Fox (TOP and LOW), and Kang's rank mean (KR). Spearman's rank correlation, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were used to investigate relationships among the statistics, and all analyses were performed using R 4.4.2 software.
Results: Combined analysis of variance revealed that the main effect of ecotype and ecotype × environment interaction were significant at the 1% probability level, indicating significant genetic diversity and different responses of ecotypes to environment. The sum of Zi(1) (56) and Zi(2) (48.32) values was less than the critical χ² value with 35 degrees of freedom, indicating no significant difference among ecotypes. Based on the different non-parametric statistics, ecotypes 10 (TN-59-133), 17 (TN-59-225), and 20 (TN-59-252) were consistently identified as the most high-yielding and yield-stable ecotypes. Mean seed yield had a positive and significant correlation with the TOP statistic and a negative correlation with S(3), S(6), NP(2), NP(3), NP(4), KR, and LOW statistics. Positive and significant correlations were observed among the Huhn and Nassar and Thennarasu statistics. Principal component analysis classified the non-parametric statistics into four distinct groups, explaining 82.4% of the total variance, with S(1), NP(1), and NP(4) in one group and TOP, MID, and yield in another. Cluster analysis of the statistics revealed two main clusters and five sub-clusters, confirming that rank-based statistics provide similar information. Cluster analysis of ecotypes placed the superior ecotypes 10 (TN-59-133), 17 (TN-59-225), and 20 (TN-59-252) in one group. The highest seed yields were recorded for ecotypes 10 (TN-59-133, 1484 kg.ha-1) and 17 (TN-59-225, 1461 kg.ha-1), which also exhibited high yield stability.
Conclusion: The results of the present experiment demonstrated that significant genetic diversity exists among black cumin ecotypes, providing a suitable basis for selection and development of superior cultivars. Non-parametric stability statistics effectively identified high-yielding and yield-stable ecotypes. Ecotypes 10 (TN-59-133), 17 (TN-59-225), and 20 (TN-59-252) showed consistent high yield and yield stability. The significant correlations between the statistics and the results of principal component and cluster analyses confirmed the reliability of the selected ecotypes. Therefore, ecotypes 10 (TN-59-133) and 17 (TN-59-225) were identified as high-yielding and yield-stable ecotypes for utilization in black cumin breeding programs and for release as suitable cultivars for Karaj, Mashhad, Gorgan, and Khorramabad and regions with similar environmental conditions. |
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| Keywords: Black cumin, Cluster analysis, Correlation, Ecotype × environment interaction and Stability analysis |
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Type of Study: Scientific & Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/02/24 | Accepted: 2026/09/27 | Published: 2025/12/1
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Fanaei H R, Marefatzadeh-Khameneh M, Kianei freez M R, Feazbakhsh M T, Rafeei M. Evaluation of seed yield stability of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) ecotypes using non-parametric statistics. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. 2025; 27 (3) :304-323 URL: http://agrobreedjournal.ir/article-1-1452-en.html
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