Organization of Genetic Variability for Quantitative Traits in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Germplasm Accessions

Aims: To quantify genetic variability for yield and yield attributing traits and to assess genetic diversity among germplasm accessions of groundnut. Study Design: Augmented design. CoS, Chintamani, UASB during kharif 2022 Place and Duration of Study: Field unit, College of Sericulture, Chintamani, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, during kharif 2022. Methodology: A set of 170 groundnut germplasm accessions were evaluated along with three check varieties viz., KCG-6, TMV-2, and GKVK-27. Observations were recorded on yield and yield-attributing traits such as days to 50% flowering, pods plant-1, pod yield plant-1 (g), and kernel yield plant-1 (g). Statistical analysis of the data was carried out according to the augmented design and an analysis of variance was performed to partition the total variation among the germplasm accessions and check entries. Adjusted trait means of each germplasm accession, genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation and heritability were computed. To unravel the organization of variability among genotypes were classified following the model-based ‘k-means’ clustering approach. Results: Analysis of variation showed significant differences among the germplasm accessions. PCV, GCV and heritability estimates were high for pod yield plant-1 and kernel yield plant-1. k-means clustering analysis categorized the germplasm accessions into 17 clusters. Out of seventeen clusters, cluster XIII contained the maximum number of accessions of 21 followed by cluster I (20) and cluster II had the minimum number of three germplasm accessions. Conclusion: Significant variability and high genetic diversity were observed among 170 germplasm accessions. High-yielding and genetically diverse accessions identified in clusters XIV, IX, II, and V can serve as valuable parents for future hybridization and yield improvement programmes.