Evaluation of recombinant inbred population for Spodoptera litura resistance and productivity parameters in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Spodoptera litura is an important pest affecting the yields of groundnut worldwide and host plant resistance is a key pest management strategy. In the present study, a set of 318 recombinant inbred lines were studied for their resistance to Spodoptera litura and productivity parameters during rainy season at hot spot location, Dharwad. Wide variation existed for Spodoptera litura damage (7.85 – 35.65 %) and also for various productivity parameters among the recombinant inbred lines. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for response to Spodoptera litura, and for number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight and yield per plant among the productivity parameters indicated relatively higher additive component of genetic variance. Non-significant phenotypic (0.039) and genotypic (0.065) correlation existed between Spodoptera litura damage and yield per plant suggesting the scope for selection of high yielding and Spodoptera resistant lines. Among the parents, female (TAG 24) was susceptible to Spodoptera litura (26.8 % leaf damage) while the male parent (ICGV 86031) was moderately resistant to Spodoptera litura (14.1 % leaf damage). Among the 318 recombinant inbred lines, 15 transgressitve segregant lines showed resistance to Spodoptera litura with less than 10 % leaf damage. Among them, C3-34 line had higher yield per plant (16.6 g) along with exhibiting tolerance to Spodoptera litura and can serve as donor in Spodoptera resistance breeding programme in groundnut. Further, this recombinant inbred population could be utilized in development of marker associated with Spodoptera resistance.