Heterosis for pod yield and its component traits in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Twenty F1s were developed by utilizing nine diverse parents 4 lines and 5 testers in Line x Testers mating design During Kharif 2015. The estimates of mean sum of squares due to male, female, male vs female, hybrids and parents vs hybrids showed significant variation. Large numbers of heterotic crosses were observed in most of the characters. The maximum positive standard heterosis for dry pod yield plant-1 (g) over best check TKG-Bold was observed in RHRG 6083 x TAG 24 (63.31%) followed by RHRG 6083 x JL 777(54.14%) and RHRG 1225 x TAG 24 (42.07%) and significant heterosis for other yield contributing traits viz., number of primary branches plant-1, number of pods plant-1, number of kernels pod-1, dry haulm yield plant-1, 100 kernel weight and shelling percentage. The maximum negative standard heterosis for days to maturity over best check TKG-Bold was observed in TG 37A x ICG 2630 (-18.61%) followed by RHRG 1225 x TAG 24 (-12.50) and TG 37A x JL 777(-11.67). The combinations viz., RHRG 6083 x TAG 24, RHRG 6083 x JL 777 and RHRG 1225 x TAG 24 could be utilize for selection of desirable segregants in further segregating generations.

Keywords

• groundnut
• heterosis
• hybrids
• line × tester analysis.