Identification of selection parameters for evaluating superior stable genotypes of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

The pooled analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences between the genotypes for days to flowering, oil per cent and protein content. However, the environmental differences were found to be highly significant for all the characters. The genotype x environment (G x E) interaction was found to be highly significant for days to maturity and pod yield per plant. Both linear and non-linear components of environment were found to be highly significant for all the six characters studied. However, the linear component was found to be greater in magnitude than the non-linear component except oil per cent and protein content. Based on the consideration of stability parameters i.e. bi=1, s2di = 0 and high mean performance according to the model proposed by Eberhart and Russell (1966), five groundnut genotypes were found stable for days to flowering, eight genotypes stable for days to maturity, two genotypes showed stability for oil per cent, three genotypes for protein content, two genotypes for kernel yield per plant and only one genotype showed stability for pod yield per plant. The genotypes K-1802 and JSP-63 were found to be more stable for quality parameters i.e. oil per cent and protein content. Moreover, genotype Birsa bold was found to be stable for pod yield per plant and for kernel yield per plant, BAU-26 and BG-4 with consistent results were identified as stable genotypes which can be cultivated even in drought condition. Keywords: Regression coefficient, G x E interaction, adaptability, environment, stability