Abstract

                                The genetic parameters Viz. genotypic and phenotypic variations, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, expected genetic advance and genetic quin were assessed from 12 varieties of spanish bunch groundnut. The varieties showed signi ficant differences in the mean values for all the characters except for sound mature kernel por cent. Plant height, number of secondary branches, Pod to peg ratio and number of primary branches showed high heritability estimates ranging from 0.80 to 096: number- of mature pods, number of nodes on main stem axis, sound mature kernel per cent. Shel- ling per cent, harvest index and pod yield showed moderate heritabilty, estimates of 0.45 to 0.62 while low heritability estimates of 0.27 to 0.36 were recorded for weight of mature pods, 100 kernel weight and 100 pod weight. High genotypic coefficient of variation ranging from 11.55 to 41 39 was observed for number of secondary branches plant height and pad yield. Number of secondary branches and plant height, recorded high genetic gain of 82,09 and 60.57 respectively and the lowest genetic gain of 1.4 was recorded by shelling par cent followed by number of nodes on main stem axis and weight of ma ture pods (2.04 and 2.44). The genotype environment interaction variance was low for the traits plant height, secondary branches and pod to peg ratio.

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