Genotypic stability and clustering analysis of confectionery groundnut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L.) for seed and protein yield in moisture-stress areas of northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Nine groundnut genotypes were evaluated in terminal moisture-stress areas of northeastern Ethiopia during 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons with the objective of analyzing genotypic stability and clustering of confectionery groundnut for seed and protein yield. The genotypes were evaluated on a plot size of 15 m² at Kobo, Mersa and Chefa testing sites of Sirinka Agricultural Research Center. The experiment was laid-out using randomized complete block design with three replications. Simple correlation analysis for seed and protein yield with other yield components were carried out using Genstat software package. Genotypic stability and clustering for seed and protein yield were computed using Additive Main effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model. Correlation analysis depicted that seed yield exhibited positive association with number of matured pods plant^-1 (r= 0.70**), shelling percentage (r=0.46**) and hundred seed weight (r=0.25*). Similarly, protein yield exhibited strong positive association with seed yield (r=0.97**), number of matured pods plant^-1 (r= 0.70**) and shelling percentage (r=0.43**). Therefore, shelling percentage, number of matured pods plant^-1 and hundred seed weight could be used as indirect selection criteria for simultaneous improvement of seed and protein yield in confectionery groundnut in terminal moisture-stress environments. Clustering analysis showed that genotypes were grouped into three distinctive clusters with the highest inter-cluster distance between cluster-I and-II (D²=173). Genotypic stability analysis revealed ICGV-88361 was stable for seed and protein yield across environments.

Keywords/phrases: AMMI, Clustering, Groundnut, Protein, Stability

Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci., 9(1): 49-65, 2010