1Genetic Resources Section, National Research Centre For Groundnut, Timhawadi, Junagadh-362 015
Fifty one cultivars of groundnut from Zambia were evaluated at Junagadh in the main rainy seascn-lS82 to understand the variation pattern for pod yield, oil content and 16 associated polygenic traits. The collections were predominantly of the botanical sub sp. hypogaea (both Virginia runner and Virginia bunch) and exhibited wide range of diversity in respect of all characters except days to flower. There were significant differences within and between the means of vinginia bunch and Virginia runner, respectively, except for days to flower and fodder yield. Oil content also differed significantly in the two varietal populations of sub sp. hypogaea. The varieties were characterized by late maturity, large pods and shy bearing with an oil content of about 47 percent. ZM 106 (ICG 8765), ZM 879 (ICG 8815) and ZM 437 (ICG 8782) offered a combination of desirable agronomic characters. Seven varieties, bunch: ZM 104 (ICG 8764), ZM 637 (ICG 8797) and ZM 773 (ICG 8805) and runner: ZM 025 (ICG 8760), ZM 055 (ICG 8762), ZM 461 (ICG 8787) and ZM 560 (ICG 8793), possessed bold seeds and could be utilized in breeding.
