Evaluation of Yield and Quality Performance of Groundnut Varieties under the Eastern Mediterranean Condition

Abstract

High yielding superior groundnut cultivar development is the main objective of groundnut breeding programs. A four-year study was conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 growing seasons to evaluate for yield and quality characteristics of 80 groundnut varieties. The field experiments were laid out in a 3 replicated randomized complete block design. In the research, row spacing was 70 x 25 cm and 80 kg/ha nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were applied. The investigated plant parameters were plant growth form, seed husk color, flower color, number of seeds in capsule, shelling percentage, 100 seed weight, number of pod per plant, pod weight per plant, pod yield and seed oil content. The groundnut varieties GK-3 and VAC-92R could be cultivated as main crop in the Eastern Mediterranean Region due to their higher yield performance then the standard varieties Com and NC-7. The groundnut genotypes PI 361753, PI 288153, AT-108, AT120 and March 1 could be used to develop large seeded confectionery type groundnut varieties in the breeding programs.