Abstract

The potential for selecting favorable early maturing Virginia peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) lines from advanced generations following a cross between an early maturing Spanish (ssp. fastigiata var. vulgaris) and a large fruited Virginia type (ssp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) was evaluated. Variability, broad and narrow-sense heritability and phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated for the parents and 39 progeny lines in F₅ and F₆ generation grown over four location-year environments.

Substantial variability among the progenies was observed for yield, seed weight/20 fruits, meat content and protein content while less variability was observed for fruit length, 20-fruit weight, oil content and a maturity index. Heritability estimates obtained from variance component analysis and parent-offspring regression were highest for yield, meat content and protein content; intermediate for fruit length, 20-fruit weight, seed weight/20 fruits; and lowest for oil content and a maturity index.

Genotypic correlations generally were higher than phenotypic correlations. Low phenotypic correlations for the maturity index with yield and yield components suggested the possible recovery of favorable recombinants with early maturity and high yields. Fruit size was highly correlated with seed weight and both were significantly correlated with yield suggesting that selection for large fruit in this population would result in higher yield. Correlations between protein content and yield were low. Oil content was negatively correlated with yield indicating improvement in oil content could result in lower yield. Calculation of the relative efficiency of selection among traits indicated that (a) selection for yield components was not as effective as selection for yield itself, and (b) selection for yield could also increase protein content, several fruit and seed traits but would decrease meat and oil content.

Transgressive segregation was observed for all traits studied. Progeny means for all traits were distributed nearer the spanish parent than the virginia parent. However, a few favorable recombinants with early maturity

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Keywords: Arachis hypogaea, yield, maturity, selection potential

How to Cite:

Chiow, H. & Wynne, J., (1983) “Heritabilities and Genetic Correlations for Yield and Quality Traits of Advanced Generations in a Cross of Peanut¹”, Peanut Science 10(1), p.13-17. doi: https://doi.org/10.3146/i0095-3679-10-1-5

Author Notes

¹Paper No. 8592 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27650. Part of a thesis submitted by the senior author as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree.