PBS 29079 B- a novel advanced breeding line with large seed size in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)”

Abstract

Groundnut is considered as an important oilseed crop throughout the world and having a unique nutritional composition. According to the utilization pattern groundnut can be categorized into oil types and confectionary types. In confectionary type, there are some important trade attributes. In developing new varieties with quality characteristics for confectionary products seed size is one of the important traits. Kernel size coupled with the nutritional quality will determine the worth of groundnut for direct consumption or export. Focusing on this objective at ICAR-DGR, Junagadh several crosses were attempted resulting in development of large seed advanced breeding lines (ABLs) from the past two decades. Evaluation of selected promising 40 large seed ABLs in two locations (Junagadh and Bikaner) in two seasons (Kharif, 2019 and 2020) along with three checks, RG 599-3, Mallika and Girnar 2 sorted a promising genotype, PBS 29079B, Virginia runner advanced breeding line developed using pedigree method. It recorded significant difference for seed characters like kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), hundred kernel weight (HKW), shelling percent (SP), and hundred pod weight (HPW). At Bikaner it recorded large mean seed size (HKW -121.9 gm; KL- 2.21 cm and KW- 1.03 cm) with moderate oil (48%) and high protein (30.39%) in two seasons whereas at Junagadh it recorded high mean HKW of 72.52 gm, mean KL as 1.7 cm and mean KW as 0.74 cm with moderate oil (47.5%) and high protein (31.33%) in two seasons compared to checks. The overall mean for seed size in four seasons (two locations in two seasons) is 97.21 g of HKW, 1.95 cm of KL and 0.88 cm of KW. Even though the range for mean seed size varied because of soil effect, it showed stable superiority over checks in all the traits in both the locations. This Virginia runner advanced breeding line is suitable for confectionery purpose which can be released as a variety after further evaluation or can be used as donor parent in groundnut hybridization programme to improve confectionery qualities.