Genetic Variability and Character Association for Yield and Related Attributes in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.): Experimental Investigation

The present study was designed to assess the extent of variability, genetic advance, heritability and correlation of different traits of 20 groundnut genotypes using randomized block design with three replications. The observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants from each treatment and replication for 15 different quantitative traits. Based on the mean performance, high pod yield per plant were identified for the genotype SC-28, VG-17 (CHECK). High estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for number of branches per plant followed by days to germination, number of pegs per plant, plant height. Genetic parameters revealed that high heritability and genetic advance as % mean values were recorded for number of pegs per plant followed by plant height, biological yield per plant and 100 kernel weight. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that pod yield per plant exhibited positive and significant association with number of branches and days to germination at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis revealed that characters viz.. harvest index, biological yield per plant, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, kernel yield per plant excetred positive direct effect on pod yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic levels.