Genetic analysis of recombinant inbred lines for iron deficiency chlorosis and productivity traits in groundnut

Abstract

Iron deficiency is an important abiotic constraint reducing the growth and yield of groundnut especially under calcareous soils. Foliar application of Fe-chelates can overcome iron deficiency but it is not economical. Evaluation of 318 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) along with parents for iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and productivity traits under iron deficient soils over three years indicated significant genotypic and genotypic x environment interaction (GE) component for both IDC and productivity traits. Among the RILs, range of variation was higher than that of the parents for visual chlorotic rating (VCR), SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) and productivity parameters across three years indicated the presence of transgressive segregants. VCR had higher phenotypic and genotypic, variances, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean (GAM) in all the three years as compared to SCMR. Among productivity traits, pod yield (g plant–1) had higher PCV and GCV compared to shelling per cent and 100 seed weight. Significant negative correlation between VCR and pod yield per plant indicated effect of IDC on productivity in RILs. Nine lines were superior for both IDC tolerance and productivity traits. This extensive phenotyping of RIL population for IDC tolerance under iron deficient conditions can be used for identification of genomic regions associated with IDC tolerance by genotyping of this RIL population.