Abstract

Eight diploid wild species of groundnut were hybridized to produce eight amphidiploids. Both the parental diploid species and synthetic amphidiploids were screened for foliar diseases viz. early leaf spot and rust, besides for sucking pests viz. thrips and leaf hopper. All the diploid species had high level of resistance for rust disease. Arachis cardenasii registered high level of resistance for both leaf hopper. Those desirable attributes were combined in the amphidiplods. The pollen fertility ranged from 19.0 to 67.4 per cent in the seven amphidiploid involving both 'A' genome species. Whereas it was only 1.5 per cent in A. villosa x A. batizocoi where 'A' and 'B' genomes were involved.

Keywords: Synthetic amphidiploid, Resistance breeding, Genome.