International Journal of Agricultural

Science and Research (IJASR)

ISSN(P): 2250-0057; ISSN(E): 2321-0087
Vol. 6, Issue 5, Oct 2016, 375-380
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd

GENETIC VARIABILITY OF WATER USE EFFICIENT RIL (S) OF THE CROSS

GKVK 4 X NRCG 12473 AND IDENTIFICATION OF ELITE GENOTYPES IN
GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)
S. K. SAVITA1, D. L. SAVITHRAMMA2 & K. MAMATA3
1,3

Research Scholar, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,

College of Agriculture, UAS Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Professor, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of

Agriculture, UAS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

ABSTRACT
Two hundred and fifty RILs in F7 generations, their parents and two verities (TMV 2 and KCG 2) were
evaluated for their performance and genetic variability of surrogate traits of Water Use efficiency viz., Specific leaf area
(SLA) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) and pod yield related traits during Kharif 2014. The phenotypic
co-efficient of variability (PCV) and genotypic co-efficient of variability (GCV) estimates were relatively high for specific
leaf are, number of pods per plant, sound mature kernel percentage, kernel yield per plant and pod yield per plant suggest
characters to get higher yields. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for
characters like plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plants, shelling percentage, sound mature
kernel percentage, kernel yield per plant and pod yield per plant and physiological parameters like SLA and SCMR
indicates the involvement of additive gene action..Based on the mean performance of the genotypes, 1100-6-8, 1511-12-3,
1326-2-8, 1040-14-2, 1609-6-7, 1663-4-8, 1326-2-2, 1026-10-5 and 1546-6-8 could be considered as elite genotypes for

Original Article

that presence of considerable variation. Hence, individual plant selection can be practiced for the above mentioned

improving groundnut pod yield under moisture stress condition.

KEYWORDS: Water Use Efficiency, Groundnut, SLA, SCMR and RILs

Received: Sep 21, 2016; Accepted: Oct 12, 2016; Published: Oct 15, 2016; Paper Id.: IJASROCT201646

INTRODUCTION
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a leguminous plant of high nutritional value and is a protein and
energy source in developing regions. Groundnut is grown under rain-dependent production conditions in India.
Due to erratic rainfall and frequent drought, and also lack of high yielding adapted cultivars, groundnut yields are
gradually low and unstable under rain-dependent conditions. Though, groundnut is known for its relative ability to
withstand periods of water limited conditions still produce biomass and kernels requires thorough investigations to
increase water use efficiency (WUE), to assure sustained food security for the benefit of resource poor farmers in
the semi-arid regions. Therefore, sustaining crop productivity under water limited conditions is most important
aspects that need to be addressed immediately.
Water Use Efficiency is one such important trait which is inversely correlated with SLA and Carbon
Isotopic Discrimination (13C) and positively associated with SCMR and transpiration efficiency ( 18O) and these
traits have been suggested as surrogate traits in selecting for WUE in groundnut. (Wright, 1994 and Nageshwara

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376

S. K. Savita, D. L. Savithramma & K. Mamata

Rao et al., 2001)

For effective selection for high yielding WUE genotypes, knowledge on genetic parameters such as genetic
variability, heritability, genetic advance is essential. Genetic variability for trait of interest in any breeding material is a
pre-requisite as it provides basis for selection. Heritability estimates helps in improvement of traits by utilizing heritable
components of variation. The present study has been undertaken to determine the estimates of variability, heritability and
genetic advance for physiological traits related to WUE, yield associated parameters in F7 recombinant inbred line
populations of groundnut.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present experimental material consisted of 250 F7 RIL population developed through single seed descent
method using parental lines GKVK 4 and NRCG12473 which are diverse for surrogate traits of WUE viz., 13C and
specific leaf area (SLA) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR). These were grown in an augmented design
including parents (GKVK 4 and NRCG 12473) and checks (TMV-2 KCG-2) with a spacing of 30 x 10 cm during kharif
2014 at UAS, GKVK, and Bengaluru. Observations were recorded on five randomly chosen plants from each RILs.
Ten characters viz., Days to 50 per cent flowering (DFF), plant height (PH), number of branches per plant (NB/P), number
of pods per plant (NP/P), kernel yield per plant (KY/P), shelling percentage (SH %), sound mature kernel percentage
(SMK %), pod yield per plant (PY/P) and traits related to WUE, SCMR and SLA were recorded. The GCV and PCV were
computed as suggested by Robinson et al. (1949). Heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were worked out as per
the method outlined by Hanson et al. (1956).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The data on the values of different characters and analysis of variance in F7 RIL population of the cross GKVK 4
X NRCG12473 (Table 1) revealed significant differences among the lines indicating presence of high variability for these
characters. These finding were in agreement with the results obtained by Suvarna et al., (2004), Gopinath, et al., (2008)
and Nandini, et al., (2011). This was further supported by the fact that range has been also quite wider for all the characters
also pointing out extreme genotypes for selection.
Table 1: Analysis of Variance for Growth Parameters, Traits Related to WUE, Yield and its Component
Traits in F7 Recombinant Inbred Lines of the Cross GKVK 4 NRCG12473 in Groundnut
Source of
Variation
Block
(Eliminating
Check+Va)
Entries
(Ignoring
Blocks)
Checks
Varieties
Checks vs.
Varieties
Error

DF

SPAD

SLA

DDF

PH (cm)

NB/P

NP/P

SH%

SMK%

KY/P(g)

PY/P(g)

4.96**

83.45

4.06

19.61**

1.61**

17.06**

49.92 *

45.01**

1.70*

3.37**

253

30.63**

1196.16**

12.27**

46.06 **

1.62 **

70.51**

109.22**

298.19**

7.35**

19.23**

3
249

83.85**
27.31**

1353.01**
1176.72**

38.73**
11.85**

36.42**
40.347**

24.33 **
1.30**

214.16**
62.25**

388.06 **
99.74**

375.35 **
262.52**

15.06**
6.985**

32.23**
18.20**

698.04**

5565.82**

38.16*

1497.97**

13.77**

1696.42 **

1633.72**

8946.61**

75.71**

235.95**

27

1.56

45.44

5.36

6.03

0.46

4.40

18.28

5.16

0.56

0.76

*Significant @ P =0.05 ** Significant @ P = 0.01 ***Significant @ P = 0.005

The PCV and GCV estimates were relatively high for SLA, pods per plant, sound mature kernel percentage,
kernel yield per plant and pod yield per plant suggest that presence of considerable variation. Hence, individual plant
selection can be practiced for the above mentioned characters to get higher yields (Table-2). These results are in agreement
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Genetic Variability of Water Use Efficient RIL (S) of the Cross GKVK 4 X NRCG 12473
and Identification of Elite Genotypes in Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.)

377

with the findings of, Suvarna, et al., (2004), Veeramani et al., (2005), Parameshwara, et al., (2007), Gopinath, et al.,
(2008) and Nandini, et al., (2011) in groundnut. The PCV and GCV estimates were moderate for SCMR, Plant height,
number of branches and shelling percent indicating presence of variability for these characters. Similar results were
observed by Rudraswamy, et al., (1999) and Nandini, et al., (2011) in groundnut. Whereas days to 50 per cent flowering
recorded lower PCV and GCV in F7 RILs of cross GKVK 4 X NRCG 12473, results were in agreement with report of
John, et al. (2008).
Table 2: Genetic Variability Parameters for Growth, Traits Related to WUE, Yield and its Component Traits in F7
Recombinant Inbreed Lines Population of the Cross GKVK 4 NRCG12473 in Groundnut
Characters

Mean

SCMR
SLA (Cm2/g)
DFF
PH (cm)
NB/P
NP/P
SH (%)
SMK (%)
KY/P (g)
PY/P (g)

42.82
123.72
39.30
37.10
5.10
22.60
55.53
66.11
5.95
9.21

Range
MIN
MAX
30.60
54.30
41.43
256.00
32.00
47.00
12.00
46.00
3.00
8.00
10.00
45.00
24.87
87.00
24.14
98.18
1.00
18.40
1.16
25.70

GCV
(%)
10.78
25.23
6.24
19.39
17.76
30.31
13.80
20.31
41.97
42.90

PCV
(%)
11.16
27.78
8.68
21.23
22.60
31.58
15.44
20.53
43.98
43.93

h2 bs
(%)
93.60
95.68
51.85
83.48
61.76
92.11
79.84
97.79
91.01
95.32

GAM
(%)
21.51
50.84
9.26
36.50
28.75
59.92
25.40
41.37
82.51
86.26

The close correspondence between the estimates of GCV and PCV for traits like SLA, plant height, pods per
plant, sound mature kernel percentage, kernel yield per plant and pod yield per plant indicated less influence of
environment on these traits hence these can be used further selection for higher yields and water use efficiency using SLA
as a surrogate traits Nandini, et al., (2011) and moderate difference between PCV and GCV estimates were observed for
SCMR, plant height, number of branches and shelling percentage hence these traits could be used for further selection for
higher yield.
High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for characters like plant
height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plants, shelling percentage, sound mature kernel percentage,
kernel yield per plant and pod yield per plant and physiological parameters like SLA and SCMR (Table-2) indicated the
presence of lesser environmental influence and prevalence of additive gene actions in their expression, hence, there is lot of
scope for improvement of these traits in the further breeding programme and single plant selection can be followed to
breed for high yielding and WUE genotypes in groundnut. But the moderate heritability and low GAM observed for days
to 50 per cent flowering, lower values of genetic advance indicated the prevalence of narrow range of variability, high
G x E interaction or non-additive gene action.
The data on the mean performance of the water use efficient RILs for the characters governed by additive genes
are given Table.3. The 1100-6-8, 1511-12-3, 1326-2-8, 1040-14-2, 1609-6-7, 1663-4-8, 1326-2-2, 1026-10-5 and 1546-6-8
exhibited superiority for maximum number of characters compared to the parents (GKVK 4 and NRCG 12473) and check
verities (KCG-2 and TMV-2). Hence, these genotypes could be considered as elite genotypes for improving groundnut pod
yield under moisture stress condition.

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S. K. Savita, D. L. Savithramma & K. Mamata

CONCLUSIONS
On the whole, Co-efficient of variation values indicated considerable amount of variability for most of the
characters except for days to 50 per cent flowering. As there is considerable variability exists in F 8 RIL population of
cross GKVK 4 x NRCG 12473 hence can be further used in identification of QTLs related to surrogate traits of WUE and
yield attributing traits and selected good genotypes with high pod yielding and high water use efficiency can be used to as
elite genotype or as a parents in hybridisation programme for further improvement of pod yield of groundnut.
Table 3: Selected Superior RILs of High Water Use Efficiency and Pod Yield and Related Attributes in
F7 Recombinant Inbred Lines of the Cross GKVK 4 NRCG 12473 in Groundnut
RILs

SCMR

1100-6-8
1511-12-3
1326-2-8
1040-14-2
1609-6-7
1663-4-8
1326-2-2
1026-10-5
1546-6-8
Mean
SE
GKVK-4
NRCG 12573
TMV-2
KCG-2

51.6
46.2
54.3
45.6
47.7
52.7
52.5
52.3
46.8
45.13
3.8
46.5
49.3
40.5
42.2

SLA
(cm2/g)
118.33
109.84
97.55
129.56
109.7
65.01
92.96
137.4
126.97
143.78
6.43
78.92
78.72
150.21
99.85

Pods per
Plant
25.98
28.56
26.30
35.05
33.76
35.53
28.52
25.68
39.32.
23.66
3.87
17.00
10.00
8.00
8.00

SH
(%)
67.49
64.40
63.36
70.23
64.91
70.37
66.62
68.83
62.73
62.95
1.15
57.11
49.59
38.34
37.84

SMK
(%)
73.43
78.45
82.65
86.61
90.79
67.52
81.59
78.95
81.67
78.33
1.54
76.47
81.58
48.72
68.57

KY/P
(g)
19.13
24.61
20.60
26.92
23.18
27.10
19.66
22.00
25.70
7.02
3.84
8.66
5.86
4.34
1.4

PY/P
(g)
26.10
32.80
29.20
33.83
30.56
34.04
28.99
32.80
41.10
11.15
6.91
15.16
11.82
11.32
3.70

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Impact Factor (JCC): 4.8136

NAAS Rating: 3.53

Genetic Variability of Water Use Efficient RIL (S) of the Cross GKVK 4 X NRCG 12473
and Identification of Elite Genotypes in Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.)
9.

379

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