Line x tester analysis for heterosis in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

A study was conducted in groundnut to estimate the magnitude of heterosis for eleven yield contributing characters. Fifteen F1s were developed by utilizing eight diverse parents, 3 lines and 5 testers in Line x Testers mating design during Kharif 2015. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the parents and hybrids for all the characters indicating presence of genetic variability. Large numbers of heterotic crosses were observed in most of the characters. The maximum positive standard heterosis for dry pod yield plant-1 over best check TKG Bold was observed in RTNG 53 X ICG 2630 (98.70 %) followed by RTNG 53 X KDG 171 (91.59%) and RTNG 53 X Konkan Gaurav (84.08 %). The range of heterosis for dry pod yield plant-1 was 9.72 to 131.80 per cent. Estimates of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for pod yield plant-1 were highly significant and positive in all hybrids over BP, SC-I and SC-II. The manifestation of heterosis for pod yield by best three crosses, also showed negative heterotic effects for days to 50% flowering, plant height, days to maturity, and positive heterotic effects for 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 sound mature kernels. From the present investigation, on the basis of economic heterosis it can be concluded that the heterosis breeding could be advantageous for the improvement of groundnut genotypes for dry pod yield and its contributing characters.

Keywords

• groundnut
• dry pod yield
• heterobeltiosis
• standard heterosis
• hybrids