Genetic analysis of F₈ recombinant inbred lines of the CROSS NRCG11915 X NRCG12326 in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) for water use efficiency

Groudnut genotype NRCG11915 with low Carbon isotopic Discrimination value and NRCG12326 with higher one was crossed to develop 142 F₈ RILs through single seed descent method. The variability, heritability and character association for 10 yield and physiological traits related to Water Use Efficiency (WUE) were estimated. Phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) was found to be higher than genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied, indicating influence of environment. A moderate to high degree of heritability and genetic advance was observed for pod yield per plant, kernel yield per plant, pods per plant, sound mature kernel percentage, plant height, number of branches per plant and specific leaf area (SLA) indicating involvement of additive gene action in controlling of these traits. Low heritability and moderate genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for SPAD Chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR).