Multiple Criteria Selection in Some Hybrid Populations of Groundnut

Thirty-two hybrid derivatives isolated from 9 different crosses were grown in preliminary yield trial along with 3 standard varieties. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of correlations between seven component characters were worked out and the estimates were evaluated for their utility in selecting the hybrid cultures. All the characters except number of mature and immature pods/plant and number of primary branches/plant showed negative and nonsignificant correlation with yield indicating the hinderance of direct selection on any character alone. An index score was calculated on the basis of discriminant function. Multiple criteria selection based on three yield components like shelling %, number of mature and immature pods/plant was found most effective, being 6∙68 times more efficient than the direct selection based on yield alone. The theoretical efficiency as judged from the expected genetic advance was found to be deviate little from the actual result in practice.