EMS Induced Variability for Physico-Quality Traits in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the effects of various doses (0.2 to 0.6%) of EMS on physico-quality traits of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L) in M4 families of the groundnut variety TPG 41. Among the different concentrations of EMS treated TPG 41 population, 0.2 % EMS was found to be effective in inducing variability for pod yield per plant, hundred kernel weight, shelling out turn and kernel length in M4 families. Phenotypic correlation coefficients between different traits in M4 showed significant and positive correlation between hundred pod and kernel weight, kernel length and width with pod yield per plant in all treatments. Shelling out turn was significantly and negatively correlated with kernel length. Of the total of 129 families, more than 20 families showed superior physical and yield attributes than TPG 41. The promising mutants identified in M4 generation with respect to physical and quality traits need further confirmation through large scale evaluation.