Genetic Variability Parameters and Character Associations among Yield Attributing Traits in Advanced Backcross Lines of Groundnut

Groundnut is currently a major industrial oilseed crop with good commercial significance. It is highly variable in phenotypic characters and thus it is important to investigate the variations and associations of these morphological features. 20 advanced Groundnut lines were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design along with parental lines and two checks and they were evaluated for 13 traits. Significant variations were revealed in analysis of variance. High GCV (20.21) coupled with high heritability (91.2) and GAM (39.77) were observed is plant height suggested that environment had lesser influence on the expression of this trait, as this character is governed by an additive gene action, making them effective for selection. High heritability combined with low GCV and GAM were recorded in oil content, days to 50 percent flowering, shelling outturn and number of secondary branches per plant revealed that non-additive genetic variation played a significant role in the expression of this trait thus, selection for this character would be inefficient. Pod yield per plant showed a positive and significant association with seed yield per plant, plant height, number of secondary branches per plant, pod length, pod width and number of pods per plant. Path coefficient analysis have revealed that positive direct effects towards pod yield per plant were reported for seed yield per plant, plant height, number of secondary branches per plant, pod length, pod width, and number of pods per plant. Thus the characters seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length and number of secondary branches per plant which are the most essential characters contributed significantly towards higher pod yield per plant.