Abstract

In order to transfer the desirable features of wild Arachis into cultivated groundnut, autopolyploids were induced in three diploid species viz.. A.cardenasii A.stenosperma and A.chucoense. The quadrivalent frequency in the autotetraploids was generally low ranging from 2.2 (A.cardenasii) to 4.7 per cent (A.chacoense). Despite moderate pollen fertility, the plants were used seed sterile. Hybridisation of the autotetraploids with different forms of A.hypogaea cultivars indicated that the crossability varied not only with the autotetraploids species but also with the different forms of cultivars used. The studies have resulted in the identification of plants having rust resistance transferred from wild species.

Keywords: Arachis wild sp. Autotetraploids, Crossability Interspecific Gene Transfer