Genetic Parameter and Association Analysis for Resistance to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Evaluation of 165 groundnut genotypes and two check parents (TAG-24 and R-9227) was carried out under artificial inoculation conditions for stem rot, Sclerotium rolfsii. indicated significant difference among genotypes, season and genotypes x seasons interaction for disease, yield and yield-related parameters. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was high (>20%) for secondary branches, disease incidence at 30, 60, 90 days after sowing and pod yield/plant, moderate (10–20%) for plant height, leaf length and leaf width and low ( 60%) for most of the characters. Genetic advance was high (>20%) for plant height, secondary branches, pod yield per plant and disease at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing. Diesease incidence at harvest was negatively associated with plant population, shelling percentage, test weight, primary branches, secondary branches, leaf length and leaf width. Among the parents, R-9227 showed resistance to stem and pod rot, where as TAG-24 showed susceptibility to stem and podrot incidence.