Estimation of Genetic Variability Parameters and Parent-offspring Correlation, Regression in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Genetic variability is major component which helps in selecting better genotypes under different environmental conditions, with this aim an experiment was conducted to understand the genetic potential, heritability, genetic advance and traits association of yield contributing characters for F6 and F7 families derived from the cross GKVK-6 × KCG-2 at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in an augmented block design along with three checks viz., TMV-2, KCG-6 and KCG-2 during summer and Kharif 2017. Results from analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that highly significant differences were observed for all the characters studied. High genetic variability was observed for major yield contributing characters like the number of pods per plant (g), pod yield (g), kernel yield per plant (g), SMK% (sound mature kernel per cent), SCMR (SPAD chlorophyll meter reading) and SLA (specific leaf area) (cm2/g). Narrow difference between GCV (genotypic coefficient of variation) and PCV (phenotypic coefficient of variation) was observed for pods per plant, pod yield, SCMR and SLA and high heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance per cent mean was recorded for pod yield, SCMR and SLA indicating the involvement of additive gene action in controlling these traits. Three superior families were noticed with more pods plant-1, high pod yield plant-1, high kernel yield-1, high shelling (%), high SMK (%), high SCMR value, and low SLA value. Further, these superior families also revealed the presence of high parent offspring regression and intergeneration correlation, implying increased efficiency of selection for most of the traits considered and these were identified to be the important characters that could be used in selection for yield Keywords: GCV, PCV, Heritability, GAM, water use efficiency, Groundnut.