Published
Yield stability of durum wheat varieties under organic and conventional farming
Estabilidad del rendimiento de variedades de trigo duro bajo agricultura orgánica y convencional
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v79.124472Keywords:
Cultivar evaluation, Durum wheat, Genotype × environment interaction, Grain yield stability, Sustainable agriculture (en)Evaluación de cultivares, Trigo duro, Interacción genotipo × ambiente, Estabilidad del rendimiento de grano, Agricultura sostenible (es)
Downloads
This study aims to identify the most suitable and stable durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) varieties for organic farming. Thirteen varieties (four traditional and nine improved) were evaluated over three consecutive years (2022–2024) in two contrasting environments (Beja, sub-humid, and Bousselem, semi-arid) under two cropping systems (organic and conventional). Grain yield stability was assessed using complementary stability indices to evaluate genotype performance, adaptation, and yield stability across environments. The varieties "Dhahbi", "Khiar", "Biskri", "INRAT100", "Maali", and "Monastir" showed good yield potential under organic conditions, reaching between 2,600 and 2,900 kg ha⁻¹. However, only "INRAT100" and "Monastir" stood out for their remarkable stability, with a bᵢ close to 1, low variability (CV of 17.48 and 2.31%), and low ecovalence values according to Wricke and Shukla. These results were confirmed by the Plaisted and Peterson, Lin and Binns, and GAI indices, highlighting the complementarity of these stability indices for identifying high-performing and stable genotypes. Therefore, "INRAT100" and "Monastir" appear to be the most promising, best-adapted, and most stable genotypes for organic durum wheat cultivation, providing valuable candidates for cultivar recommendation and supporting sustainable durum wheat production in Tunisia.
Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar las variedades de trigo duro (Triticum durum Desf.) más adecuadas y estables para la agricultura ecológica. Trece variedades (cuatro tradicionales y nueve mejoradas) fueron evaluadas durante tres años consecutivos (2022–2024) en dos ambientes contrastantes (Beja, subhúmedo, y Bousselem, semiárido) bajo dos sistemas de cultivo (ecológico y convencional). La estabilidad del rendimiento de grano se evaluó mediante índices de estabilidad complementarios para analizar el comportamiento de los genotipos, su adaptación y la estabilidad del rendimiento en diferentes ambientes. Las variedades "Dhahbi", "Khiar", "Biskri", "INRAT100", "Maali" y "Monastir" mostraron un buen potencial de rendimiento bajo condiciones ecológicas, alcanzando valores entre 2.600 y 2.900 kg ha⁻¹. Sin embargo, únicamente "INRAT100" y "Monastir" destacaron por su notable estabilidad, con un coeficiente de regresión (bᵢ) cercano a 1, una baja variabilidad (CV de 17,48 y 2,31%, respectivamente) y bajos valores de ecovalencia según Wricke y Shukla. Estos resultados fueron confirmados por los índices de Plaisted y Peterson, Lin y Binns, y GAI, destacando la complementariedad de estos índices de estabilidad para identificar genotipos de alto rendimiento y estabilidad. Por lo tanto, "INRAT100" y "Monastir" parecen ser los genotipos más prometedores, mejor adaptados y más estables para el cultivo ecológico de trigo duro, proporcionando candidatos valiosos para la recomendación varietal y contribuyendo al desarrollo de una producción sostenible de trigo duro en Túnez.
References
Ayed S, Othmani A, Bouhaouel I and Teixeira da Silva JA (2021) Multi-environment screening of durum wheat genotypes for drought tolerance in changing climatic events. Agronomy 11(5): 875. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050875
Bouatrous A, Harbaoui K, Karmous C, Gargouri S et al (2022) Effect of wheat monoculture on durum wheat yield under rainfed sub-humid Mediterranean climate of Tunisia. Agronomy 12(6): 1453. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061453
Boukrain A, Martínez-Villaluenga C, Frias J, Mejri M, Peñas E (2026) Effect of farming system on grain composition and immunogenic potential of ancient and modern durum wheat varieties. Foods 15(7): 1121. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15071121
Bux C, Lombardi M, Varese E and Amicarelli V (2022) Economic and Environmental Assessment of Conventional versus Organic Durum Wheat Production in Southern Italy. Sustainability 14(15): 9143. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159143
Campiglia E, Mancinelli R, De Stefanis E, Pucciarmati S and Radicetti E (2015) The long-term effects of conventional and organic cropping systems, tillage managements and weather conditions on yield and grain quality of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in the Mediterranean environment of Central Italy. Field Crops Research 176: 34–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.02.021
Carucci F, Gatta G, Gagliardi A, Bregaglio S and Giuliani MM (2023) Individuation of the best agronomic practices for organic durum wheat cultivation in the Mediterranean environment: a multivariate approach. Agriculture & Food Security 12:12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00417-5
Chanev M (2021) Problems and perspectives in organic cultivation of cereals – overview. Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection 2021(2): 66–75. https://doi.org/10.32006/eeep.2021.2.6675
Crossa J (1990) Statistical analyses of multilocation trials. Advances in Agronomy 44: 55–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60818-4
Cséplő M, Puskás K, Vida G, Mészáros K, Uhrin A et al (2025) Performance of a durum wheat diversity panel under different management systems. Cereal Research Communications 53: 551–562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-024-00517-3
de la Cruz VYV, Tantriani, Cheng W and Tawaraya K (2023) Yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems across climate types and sub types: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Systems 211: 103732. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103732
Eberhart SA and Russell WA (1966) Stability parameters for comparing varieties. Crop Science 6(1): 36–40. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1966.0011183X000600010011x
Finlay KW and Wilkinson GN (1963) The analysis of adaptation in a plant-breedingprogramme. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 14(6): 742–754. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9630742
Francis TR and Kannenberg LW (1978) Yield stability studies in short-season maize. I. A descriptive method for grouping genotypes. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 58(4): 1029–1034. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps78-157
Gracia-Romero A, Vatter T, Kefauver SC, Rezzouk FZ et al (2023) Defining durum wheat ideotypes adapted to Mediterranean environments through remote sensing traits. Frontiers in Plant Science 14: 1254301. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1254301
Guendouz A and Hafsi M (2017) Comparison of parametric and non-parametric methods for selecting stable and adapted durum wheat cultivars under semi-arid conditions. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 13(3): 655–662.
Huang R, Li W, Niu M and Hu B (2025) Organic Farming to Improve Soil Quality and the Functional Structure of Soil Microbial Communities. Agriculture 15(13): 1381. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15131381
Jallouli S, Chamekh Z, Ayadi S, Zouari I et al (2022) Changes in yield and yield stability of durum wheat genotypes (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) under different environments and water regimes. Cereal Research Communications 50(3): 549–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-021-00197-3
Kyratzis AC, Pallides A and Katsiotis A (2022) Investigating stability parameters for agronomic and quality traits of durum wheat grown under Mediterranean conditions. Agronomy 12: 1774. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12081774
Lin CS and Binns MR (1988) A superiority measure of cultivar performance for cultivar × location data. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 68(1): 193–198. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps88-018
Mihrete TB and Mihretu FB (2025) Crop diversification for ensuring sustainable agriculture, risk management and food security. Global Challenges 9(2): 2400267. https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400267
Mohammadi R, Abdipour M, Rahmati M, Armion M, Mehri N and Mehraban A (2025) Genotype × environment interaction analysis and climatic factors impacts on grain yield in rainfed durum wheat trials in Iran. BMC Plant Biology 25: 1065. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07099-0
Ninou E, Tsivelika N, Sistanis I, Katsenios N, Korpetis E et al (2024) Assessment of durum wheat cultivars’ adaptability to Mediterranean environments using G × E interaction analysis. Agronomy 14: 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010102
Oulmi A, Frih B, Guendouz A and Benkadja S (2022) Effect of sowing date on grain yield, its components and some morpho-phenological traits of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in semi-arid zone in Algeria. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress Management 13(3): 226–234. https://doi.org/10.23910/1.2022.2803
Paull J (2024) Organic agriculture in Tunisia, Africa. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 6(1): 38–42. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2024.6.1.774
Plaisted RL and Peterson LC (1959) A technique for evaluating the ability of selections to yield consistently in different locations or seasons. American Potato Journal 36(11): 381–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02852735
Pour-Aboughadareh A, Yousefian M, Moradkhani H, Poczai P and Siddique KHM (2019) STABILITYSOFT: A new online program to calculate parametric and non-parametric stability statistics for crop traits. Applications in Plant Sciences 7(1): e1211. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1211
Rached Z, Chebil A and Thabet C (2023) Effect of farm size on sustainability dimensions: Case of durum wheat in Northern Tunisia. Sustainability 15(1): 779. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010779
Roostaei M, Jafarzadeh J, Roohi E, Nazary H, Rajabi R et al (2022) Genotype × environment interaction and stability analyses of grain yield in rainfed winter bread wheat. Experimental Agriculture 58: e37. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479722000345
Shukla GK (1972) Some statistical aspects of partitioning genotype-environmental components of variability. Heredity 29(2):237–245. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1972.87
Souissi A, Bahri H, Cheikh M’hamed H, Chakroun M, Benyoussef S et al (2020) Effect of tillage, previous crop, and N fertilization on agronomic and economic performances of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) under rainfed semi-arid environment. Agronomy 10(8): 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081161
Urbanavičiūtė I, Bonfiglioli L and Pagnotta MA (2024) Selection of Durum Wheat and SSR Markers for Organic Farming in Central Italy Using AMMI Analysis. Agronomy 14(3): 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030458
Verma A and Singh GP (2023) Performance assessment of wheat genotypes based on the superiority index using additive main and multiplicative interaction effects and BLUP analysis. Ilmu Pertanian 8(2): 80–89. https://doi.org/10.22146/ipas.77761
Wricke G (1962) Über eine Methode zur Erfassung der ökologischen Streubreite in Feldversuchen. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenzüchtung 47: 92–96.
Dimensions
PlumX
Article abstract page views
Downloads
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The journal allows the author(s) to maintain the exploitation rights (copyright) of their articles without restrictions. The author(s) accept the distribution of their articles on the web and in paper support (25 copies per issue) under open access at local, regional, and international levels. The full paper will be included and disseminated through the Portal of Journals and Institutional Repository of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and in all the specialized databases that the journal considers pertinent for its indexation, to provide visibility and positioning to the article. All articles must comply with Colombian and international legislation, related to copyright.
Author Commitments
The author(s) undertake to assign the rights of printing and reprinting of the material published to the journal Revista Facultad Nacional de Agronomía Medellín. Any quotation of the articles published in the journal should be made given the respective credits to the journal and its content. In case content duplication of the journal or its partial or total publication in another language, there must be written permission of the Director.
Content Responsibility
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the journal are not necessarily responsible or in solidarity with the concepts issued in the published articles, whose responsibility will be entirely the author or the authors.
