Genetic variability and character association for yield and related attributes in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is one of the important kharif oilseed crops in India, contributing about 27% of the total area and 33% of the total production of the oilseed crops. It is a rich source of edible oil, high quality protein, fat and carbohydrates. A study to obtain the information on extent of genetic variability and inter-relationship of seed yield and associated characters under rainfed upland condition was carried out at groundnut experimental area of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi for two consecutive years (in kharif 2014 and 2015). Fifteen advanced lines genotypes including three checks viz. Birsa Bold ICGS 76 & Kaushal were laid out in the Randomized Block Design with three replications in rainfed upland situation. Data were recorded for six yield attributing and quality characters in both the years and subjected to pooled analysis. The objectives of this study were to estimate the phenotypic and genotypic variance, genetic advance, heritability, correlation coefficient and path analysis for yield and yield associated traits to identify the most suitable genotypes of groundnut genotypes tolerant to drought for Jharkhand state. The analysis of variance revealed the significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits indicating presence of sufficient variability among the genotypes for various traits. High estimate of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed for pod yield per plot (18.77 & 24.97), kernel yield per Plot (21.57 & 30.00) and 100 kernel weights (15.07 & 21.19) indicated wider genetic variation for these traits. High value of heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance as per cent of mean were observed for the characters number of pod yield per Plot, Kernel yield per plot and 100-kernel weight indicated that selection may be effective for this character. The results of correlation studies indicated that genotypic correlation coefficients were higher in magnitude than their corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficients for most of the traits. Significantly correlation coefficient was existed for pod yield with the Characters Shelling percentage, Kernel yield and 100 Kernel weight. Other Significant correlation was observed between the Characters shelling % and Kernel yield & 100 Kernel weight. High direct effect of path analysis was observed for the Characters shelling percentage. Hence this character may be effective for selection of high pod yield. For maximizing the Pod yield per plant emphasis should be given in selection of characters such as sound mature kernel, kernel yield, Shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight for further improvement of groundnut crop.