Assessment of variability, heritability and genetic advance in peanut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)]

Abstract

The present investigation of experimental yield trial on genetic variability involving 56 genotypes of groundnut were carried out in kharif season 2022-23 at Research farm, Department of genetics and plant breeding, college of agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior (M.P.). The 13 traits were recorded and genetic parameters viz., PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean were studied. Based on the analysis of variance, it was determined that there were significant differences in genotypes for every character, demonstrating variability across the traits. High PCV and GCV estimates were identified for pod yield per plant had the highest GCV followed by kernel yield per plant, kernel number per plant and number of pods per plant. Moderate PCV and GCV values observed number of branches per plant, plant height, 100 kernel weight, 100 pod weight and harvest index, whereas low PCV and GCV values were observed days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, sound mature kernel and shell outturn. The estimation of high heritability value coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for pod yield per plant followed by kernel yield per plant, kernel number per plant, number of pods per plant, plant height, number of branches per plant, 100 kernel weight, 100 pod weight and harvest index indicating that direct selection for these traits would be more successful in achieving the intended genetic improvement and that the inheritance of these attributes was more likely the result of additive gene effects.