Evaluating the stability of local areca nut accession across seasons and years is vital to understanding the production trend and potential. Genotypes with stability across seasons and years indicate their adaptability to different climates, pests, and disease attacks over time. This study aimed to evaluate the fruit and seed weights of 14 Indonesian local areca nut accessions to elucidate the G × E effect on these traits. The research transpired at the Kayuwatu Experimental Station, Palm Research Institute, Manado, North Sulawesi Province, from January 2017 to December 2021. The genetic materials were 14 accessions of areca nut, along with two earlier released local varieties (Emas Areca nut and Betara Areca nut). The experiment ran for five years in one location. The research showed that the G × E interaction significantly affected the fruit and seed weights. The Malinow 1 genotype had the heaviest fruit weight of 57.46 g, and the Betara genotype had a seed weight of 20.06 g. According to a parametric assessment, stable accessions were Betara, Galangsuka, Pinangwangi, SK1, and Malinow 1, and they had above-average fruit and seed weights. This study revealed different stability profiles among areca nut accessions, substantiating the importance of the G × E effect on yield.

Keywords: Areca nut (Areca catechu), dwarf areca nut, dynamic stability, nonparametric, parametric, tall areca nut

Key findings: This study identified stable areca nut accessions over the years based on fruit and seed weight characteristics, viz., Malinow 1, Galangsuka, Betara, SK1, SK2, and Pinangwangi.