Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Virginia Cultivars of Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.)

Genetic variability, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance for 15 characters in 45 genotypes of groundnut (Arachte hypogaea L.), belonging to Virginia group (ssp., hypogaea var. hypogaea) but differing, in habit and duration (Virginia bunch, Virginia runner short and long duration) were studied. Considerable amount of phenotypic and genotypic variability was observed for number of primary and secondary branches per plant in all three groups. The 100-kernel weight in Virginia bunch and Virginia runner short duration groups and average number of kernels per pod in Virginia runner long duration group also had considerable amount of variation as revealed by high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation. Heritability and genetic advance were high for percentage of mature pods and 100-kernel weight in Virginia bunch and Virginia runner long duration groups and for number of secondary branches in Virginia runner short duration group. in Virginia bunch and runner long duration groups, number of secondary branches had moderately high heritability with high genetic advance indicating that additive gene effects were important for these characters and selection pressure could be applied on them for yield improvement. Harvest index and pod yield had low heritability, indicating that these traits were under the influence of environmental factors.