Induced Mutants of Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) for Canopy and Pod Bearing Characters

The studies on Induced mutants indicated that genetic restructuring of peanut plant to combine compact canopy frame and higher pod yield is possible in the case of viriginia genotypes. The spanish types did not tolerate reduction in vegetative growth which reflected in decreased pod production probably because they attained a critical gentic balance for canopy attributes. All the spanish mutants with higher pod number showed enhanced branch number and dry weight of vegetative parts. A narrow leaf virginia type mutant (TMV₂ NLM) of TMV₂ a spanish variety reported in the study showed several desirable characters such as higher dry-matter production, higher pod number, and resistance to Cercopora leaf spot. The mutant was found to be genetically different from the Gujarat Narrow leaf Mutant reported earlier. The performance of some promising mutants with higher pod number is also discussed.