STABLE: A BASIC Program for Calculating Stability and Yield‐Stability Statistics

There is a worldwide interest among plant breeders, geneticists, and production agronomists in genotype × environment (GE) interaction. A stability analysis is often conducted to estimate and interpret GE interaction. From a practical standpoint, stability statistics and genotype performance (yield) need to be integrated. A DOS‐version computer program (STABLE) was developed that calculates Shukla's stability‐variance statistic (σ 2 i ) and Kang's yield‐stability statistic (YS i ) that combines yield and stability of performance into a single selection criterion. STABLE operates on IBM‐PCs or compatible microcomputers with a BASIC, GWBASIC, or QBASIC interpreter. Input of data and other information is menu‐driven. Output consists of (i) a table showing an analysis of variance, (ii) a table showing genotype means, σ 2 i , s 2 i (a stability‐variance statistic computed from residual GE interaction after removal of heterogeneity due to a covariate), and Wricke's ecovalence (W i ), and (iii) a table showing various statistics and information, such as σ 2 i , YS i , and genotypes selected on the basis of YS i . This program should be useful for selecting high‐yielding, stable genotypes.