Combining ability studies to identify crosses and good combiners for developing new genotypes for yield and water use efficiency traits in groudnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Combining ability analysis of 28 F₁ hybrids of eight parents half diallel of groundnut indicated predominant additive gene effects for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading, specific leaf weight, leaf area index, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, dry haulms yield per plant, harvest index and pod yield per plant and predominant non additive gene effects for specific leaf area and transpiration rate. Both additive and non additive gene action was important in the expression of water use efficiency. The parents such as TPT-4, TIT-25, ICGV-91114, JL-220 and K-1375 have exhibited good combining ability for one or the other economic traits and they were considered for utilization in the breeding programmes. The hybrid combinations viz., TPT-4 x TIR-25 and TCGS-584 x K-1375 have recorded superior per se for pod yield per plant. TPT4 x K-1375 was identified as the specific cross for SPAD chlorophyll meter reading and water use efficiency. Hence, these crosses could be utilized for further selection to obtain high yielding segregants in the segregating generations.