Genetic Variability and Path Analysis of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

An experiment was conducted at the Research farm of Regional Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Hathazari, Chittagong during Rabi season (December to April), 2009-2010 for estimation of genetic variability, genetic parameters and correlation coefficient among different yield components in a randomized block design with three replications. Thirty four groundnut genotypes were tested in the experiment. Highly significant variations were observed among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The highest genetic coefficient of variation was observed for karnel yield per hectare, followed by karnel yield per plant, branches per plant, immature and mature nuts per plant, 100 kernal weight and plant height. The highest heritability was observed in karnel yield per pant (95.08%), followed by karnel yield per hectare (94.38%), 100 kernal weight (87.01%), immature and mature nuts per plant (82.24%, 80.32%), branches per plant (79.54%) and 100 nut weight (78.98%), while high values of genetic advance were obtained in all the characters except days to maturity and days to 50% flowering. The seed yield per plant showed the highly significant and positive association with nut size, number of nuts per plant, karnel size and days to 50% flowering. The number of mature nuts per plant had high positive direct effect on seed yield per hectare followed by nut size, shelling percentage, days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. Therefore, branches per plant, plant height, nuts per plant, nut size, karnel size, days to 50% flowering, shelling percentage and days to maturity were identified to be the important characters which could be used in selection for yield.