Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, December - 2014; Volume – 2(6)

Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences

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ISSN No. 2320 – 8694

CHARACTERIZATION OF YIELD COMPONENTS IN CERTAIN GROUNDNUT

(Arachis hypogaea L.) VARIETIES OF ETHIOPIA

Jeyaramraja P R* and Fantahun Woldesenbet

Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Arba Minch University, Post Box No. 21, Arba Minch, Gamo Gofa Zone, Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia

Received – October 08, 2014; Revision – November 26, 2014, Accepted – December 10, 2014
Available Online – December 20, 2014.

KEYWORDS ABSTRACT

Yield components
Documentation of yield components (pod and seed characteristics) in the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea
L.) varieties of Ethiopia has not been done so far and the same is not available in the literature. Such
Peanut
literature is required as it forms a platform for further studies in future on plant breeding programmes to
improve the traits of this crop in Ethiopia. Hence, a study has been taken up to characterize the pods and
Kernel
seeds in certain important groundnut varieties released by Werer Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia.
Pod The parameters studied include individual seed weight, number of seeds per pod, 100 pods weight, 100
seeds weight and shelling percent. All the six varieties exhibited statistically significant variations in the
Seed studied parameters except shelling percent. Thus, a great extent of genetic diversity is found among the
groundnut varieties in Ethiopia. Individual seed weight, 100 pods weight and 100 seeds weight were
Arachis hypogaea L. highest in the variety, Tole 2 while number of seeds per pod was highest in the variety, Werer 964. The
parameters analyzed in this investigation were compared with previously available data on days to
maturity, oil content and shelled seed yield. Correlation matrix of the studied parameters revealed some
interesting relationships among them.

* Corresponding author
E-mail: [email protected] (Jeyaramraja P R)

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593 Jeyaramraja and Fantahun

1 Introduction 2 Materials and Methods

Groundnut or peanut is one among the five extensively grown Six groundnut varieties namely, Roba, Werer 962, NC -4x,
oil crops of Ethiopia (Wijnands et al., 2009). Under rain-fed Fayo, Tole 2 and Werer 964 were collected from Werer
conditions, it is generally grown and is utilized for extracting Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia during April 2014. The
cooking oil, and also for confectionary in Ethiopia (Kudama, six varieties selected for this study are the best performers
2013). Besides, this crop helps small scale producers in getting among the various varieties released by Werer Agricultural
significant revenue and also helps Ethiopia in getting foreign Research Centre (personal communication). Parameters such
money earnings through export (Geleta et al., 2007). Plumpy’ as individual seed weight, number of seeds per pod, 100 pods
nut (groundnut nutritional product used for treating weight, 100 seeds weight and shelling percent were studied in
malnutrition in children below 2 years) marketing in countries the present investigation in order to characterize the pods and
like Ethiopia benefits groundnut producers (Pazderka & seeds of these groundnut varieties.
Emmott, 2010). Being a legume, groundnut improves soil by
fixing nitrogen biologically without consuming non-renewable Number of seeds pod -1 is calculated from the average number
energies and without disturbing agro-ecological balance of seeds obtained from 10 randomly selected mature pods. 100
(Reddy & Kaul, 1986). pods weight (g) and 100 seeds weight (g) are obtained from
random sample of 100 pods and 100 seeds, respectively and
The economically important part of groundnut plant is the pod weighed. Individual seed weight (g) was calculated from 100
which encloses the seeds. Groundnut is an unpredictable crop seeds weight (g). Shelling percent is calculated using the
due to the development of pods underground (Zaman et al., following formula: Shelling (%) = [weight of all seeds from 10
2011). The size of the seed and the number of seeds per pod randomly selected pods/weight of 10 randomly selected pods]
are important criteria that determine the market value of X 100. All parameters were analyzed three times and the data
groundnut in general. In addition, the pod and seed were subjected to statistical analysis adopting randomized
characteristics (yield components) are important in selecting block design using WASP (WEB AGRI STAT PACKAGE
parent plants before a hybridization experiment is performed Version 2.0), developed by Ashok Kumar Jangam and Pranjali
with an objective to get improved varieties with heterosis. Thali, ICAR Research Complex for Goa, India. Critical
difference (CD) values were calculated at 0.05 and 0.01 levels
The harvest in groundnut can be augmented up to 30% - 89% to find out whether statistically significant differences exist
if high yielding varieties are identified (Reddy et al., 1993). To among the varieties in terms of studied parameters. A
get such improved varieties, the prerequisite is characterization correlation matrix of the studied parameters has also been
of yield components (pods and seeds) of groundnut, which worked out using the same application to find out relationship
however, has not been carried out in Ethiopia so far and hence; among them.
such information is not available in literature.
3 Results
Hence, a study has been carried out to characterize the yield
components of certain important groundnut varieties of The pods and seeds of the six groundnut varieties can be
Ethiopia. The results of the study are expected to form a visualized in Figure 1 and 2. The figures illustrate clearly the
foundation for further studies in future on plant size, colour and appearance of the pods and seeds of the
breeding/improvement programmes. studied groundnut varieties in comparison to each other. Data
on days to maturity, oil content and shelled seed yield of these
varieties are presented in Table 1.

Table 1Days to maturity, Oil content and Shelled seed yield in the Groundnut Varieties of Ethiopia.

Varieties Days to Maturity* Oil (%)* Shelled seed Yield (qt/ha)**

Roba 125 49.0 23.20
Werer 962 130 47.8 28.58
NC-4x 150 46.0 23.62
Fayo 130-155 45.5 22.18
Tole 2 145-157 47.0 18.86
Werer 964 128 46.2 16.84
*Source: Werer Agricultural Research Centre
**Source: Average shelled seed yields across three districts (Dale, Dara & Loca-Abaya) in Ethiopia obtained from DCG Report
No.74 (Alemayehu et al., 2014)

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Characterization of Yield Components in Certain Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties of Ethiopia 594

Table 2 Seed and Pod Characteristics in Various Groundnut Varieties of Ethiopia

Varieties Individual seed weight (g) No. of seeds/pod 100 pods wt.(g) 100 seeds wt. (g) Shelling %
Roba 0.533 bc 2.0 c 144.0 c 53.33 bc 74.0 a
d b c d
Werer 962 0.400 2.8 154.3 40.00 72.5 a
b c c b
NC-4x 0.570 1.9 144.3 57.00 75.2 a
b c c b
Fayo 0.570 2.0 145.7 57.00 78.4 a
Tole 2 0.910 a 2.0 c 254.3 a 91.00 a 71.7 a
cd a b cd
Werer 964 0.473 3.3 210.3 47.33 74.2 a
Statistical Significance:
CD (0.05) 0.075 0.48 12.3 7.65 NS*
CD (0.01) 0.109 0.69 17.5 10.90 NS
CV (%) 7.30 11.50 3.86 7.30 14.38
In a column, values followed by same alphabet are not significant at 0.05 level.
*NS = Non-significant
There is vast variation in the number of days to maturity 100 seeds weight which is a measure of seed size (Zamurrad et
(DTM) among the groundnut varieties studied (Table 1). DTM al., 2013), also followed the same trend as individual seed
ranges from 125 to 157. Among the varieties studied, Roba weight because individual seed weight was calculated from
matures early and Tole 2 matures late. Oil content in the seeds 100 seeds weight. Therefore, there was a correlation
ranges from 45.5 % (Fayo) to 49 % (Roba). The shelled seed coefficient of 0.999 between individual seed weight and 100
yield (qt/ha) is highest in the variety, Werer 962 (28.58) and seeds weight, which was significant at 0.001 level (Table 3).
lowest in Werer 964 (16.84) (Table 1).
100 pods weight was highest in Tole 2 and lowest in Roba
There were statistically significant differences among the (Table 2). A higher shelling percent indicates less seed case
varieties in terms of individual seed weight, number of seeds (pod) weight and more seed weight and so, it is preferable.
pod-1, 100 pods weight and 100 seeds weight. Individual seed Shelling per cent was not statistically different among the
weight is highest in the variety Tole 2 (Table 2) and lowest in different varieties studied although it ranged from 71.7 % to
the variety Werer 962. 78.4 %.

Figure 1 Pods of certain groundnut varieties of Ethiopia.

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595 Jeyaramraja and Fantahun

Table 3 Correlation Matrix of Studied Parameters in the Groundnut Varieties of Ethiopia

Parameters DTM Oil (%) SSY ISW NSP 100P 100S

Oil (%) -0.576
SSY -0.153 0.377
ISW 0.715 -0.117 -0.486
NSP -0.601 -0.033 -0.178 -0.531
100P 0.274 -0.106 -0.69 0.69 0.238
100S 0.719 -0.114 -0.481 0.999* -0.538 0.693
Shelling (%) 0.109 -0.583 -0.024 -0.263 -0.255 -0.578 -0.265
* Significant at 0.001 level; n=6
DTM - Days to Maturity; SSY - Shelled seed yield (qt/ha); ISW - Individual seed weight (g); NSP - Number of seeds/pod; 100P - 100
pods weight (g); 100S - 100 seeds weight (g)

Table 3 shows some interesting relationships among the requires the highest number (145-157) of days to reach
studied parameters although they are statistically insignificant. maturity (Table 1 & 2). It can be understood that the
Days to maturity (DTM) positively correlated with individual production and translocation of photosynthates from the leaf to
seed weight and 100 seeds weight. DTM negatively correlated the seed will continue as long as the crop stays alive on the
with oil content and number of seeds pod -1. There was also field and hence, Tole 2 must be able to gain more individual
negative relationship between oil content and shelling percent seed weight. The variety, Roba that had the lowest 100 pods
and also between shelled seed yield and 100 pods weight. weight, matures early (125 days) and has highest oil content
Individual seed weight has positively correlated with 100 pods (Table 1 & 2).
weight and negatively correlated with number of seeds pod -1.
100 seeds weight had positive relationship with 100 pods It is interesting to note that the variety, Werer 962 which has
weight and negative relationship with number of seeds pod -1. the lowest individual seed weight, gave the highest shelled
Shelling per cent and 100 pods weight are negatively related. seed yield (Table 1 & 2). Albeit number of seeds pod -1 was
highest in Werer 964 (Table 3), it gave the lowest shelled seed
Discussion yield. From these results, it can be inferred that yield in
groundnut does not depend merely on individual seed weight
Some important and interesting characteristics of the and number of seeds pod -1, but it depends on pod/seed yield
groundnut varieties of Ethiopia were noticed in this study. The plant-1. Shah et al., 1993 reported that yield was positively
variety, Tole 2 which has the highest individual seed weight, correlated with pods per plant.

Figure 2 Seeds of certain groundnut varieties of Ethiopia.

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Characterization of Yield Components in Certain Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties of Ethiopia 596

Diversity and selection are two major principles of plant Kudama G (2013) Economics of Groundnut Production in East
improvement program and selection has high efficiency when Hararghe Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Science,
there is desired genetic diversity in studied characteristics Technology & Arts Research Journal 2: 135-139
(Sadeghi et al., 2011). Genetic diversity is one of basic
requirements of development in plant breeding. Although Nadaf HL, Kaveri SB, Madhusudan K, Motagi BN (2009)
groundnut is self-pollinating and possesses limited variability, Induced Genetic Variability for Yield and Yield Components
the statistically significant differences among the studied in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). In: Shu QY (Ed) Induced
groundnut varieties in terms of individual seed weight, number Plant Mutations in the Genomics Era, Food and Agriculture
of seeds pod-1, 100 pods weight and 100 seeds weight indicate Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Pp 346-348
that there is great extent of genetic diversity among the
groundnut varieties in Ethiopia. This broader genetic diversity Pazderka C, Emmott A (2010) African groundnuts
of Ethiopian groundnut can be used sufficiently in procurement for development case study, London, Pp 1-15
improvement programs to get new varieties with desired traits.
Reddy LJ, Kaul AK (1986) Status and prospects of groundnut
The early maturing variety, Roba has high oil content (Table in Bangladesh. Agriculture Research Council, Dhaka,
1). Tole 2 which has highest individual seed weight must be a Bangladesh, Pp 1–51
desirable variety for abroad customers and hence, it can be
exported as it can be a foreign exchange earner. In groundnut, Reddy LJ, Nigam SN, Subrahmanyam P, Reddy RGS (1993)
large seeds have consumer and market preference, particularly Registration of ICGV-86590, peanut cultivar. Crop Science 33:
for confectionery and value addition, in turn fetching premium 357-358
prices in domestic and international markets (Nadaf et al.,
2009). Sadeghi SM, Javid F, Noorhosseini Niyaki SA (2011)
Assessment of genetic diversity in peanut (Arachis hypogaea
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Financial support by Arba Minch University
(GOV/AMU/TH14/CNS/BIOL/01/06) is gratefully Shah MA, Rahim J, Hassan S, Rashid A, Jan H (1993)
acknowledged. The authors thank Werer agricultural research Screening of mungbean genotypes for genetic parameters and
center for providing the seeds. protein content. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 9: 317-321

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