Abstract:
Pod yield and seventean other characters were studied in eighty groundnut
varieties raised in summer rice fallows. Correlation coefficients at the genotypic
and phenotypic levels were computed between these characters and path analysis
for pod yield was carried out considering eight components.
Dry pod yield was highly correlated positively with plant height on the 50th
day, length of top, fresh weight of pods, number of mature pods and number of
immature pods both at the genotypic and phenotyic levels. Pod yield was also
correlated highly and positively with number of flowers and haulms yield phenotypically.
Pod yield recorded highly significant negative correlation with duration
upto flowering, number of branches and leaves on the 50th day and number
of flowers while it was moderate with number of branches. Positive correlation
of duration upto flowering and maturity and lack of significant correlation of the
latter with pod yield suggest the possibility of recombining high yield with short
duration.
Fresh weight of pods had the highest positive direct effect on dry pod yield.
Number of leaves, flowers and mature pods also had positive direct effects
in that order. Number of mature pods exarted positive indirect effects via
fresh weight of pods, number of basal primary branches, haulms yield and 100 pod
weight. Length of top, numbar of basal primary branches, haulms yield and '00 pod
weight had negative direct effects on pod yield, of which that by haulms yield was
the highest.