Parent-offspring regression, correlation and genetic advance of drought and yield traits at early generation in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A study was carried out to estimate the parent-offspring regression and correlation and, to determine genetic advance of yield and drought related traits of groundnut at early segregating populations. All the experiments were conducted in the dry season 2015/2016 at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ICRISAT Samanko, Mali under full irrigation and drought stress conditions. The data were collected on plot basis on both water-stressed and fully irrigated plots in the F1, F2 and F2:3 generations of two populations. Data collected included chlorophyll concentration (SCMR), Specific Leaf Area (SLA) (cm2/g) and Pod Yield (PY)(kg/ha). Results of the parent offspring regression for the two populations evaluated both water regimes were low and revealed importance of non-genetic effects. Consequently, the genetic advances for the two crosses were mostly low to moderate irrespective of the generation and environment under study. Selection at early generation in groundnut could be slow under drought. Based on the findings, selection for drought tolerance would be inefficient to identify high yield and drought tolerant lines at early generation in groundnut. The highest heritability estimates for F1:F2 were 42% for SCMR 60 DAS and at 80 DAS under well-watered conditions, 20% ± 0.20 for SLA at 60 DAS and at 80 DAS under drought stressed conditions. The highest heritability estimates for F2:F3 progenies were observed from SCMR 60 DAS (22% ± 0.09) under well-watered conditions and SLA 60 DAS (22% ± 0.08) under water-stressed conditions. Key words: Groundnut, heritability, drought stress, breeding.