Physiological plasticity of Arachis hypogaea cultivars under drought conditions of semiarid region of India

Abstract

Physiological plasticity of sixty peanut cultivars, belonging to four botanical groups, were evaluated and compared during Kharif season under well-watered (with protective irrigation; P) and natural drought (under rainfed; RF) conditions. Based on physiological and yield attributes to identify the promising genotypes. The days required for 50% flowering varied from 24.5-34.0 days and 26.0-37.7 days with an average of 28 and 30 days in P and RF crops, respectively. The natural drought (RF) condition delayed crop maturity (112-132 days) as against 113-119 maturity days in P. Interestingly, 30 cultivars matured within 113 days at 2130 ºC degree days under both the condition indicating their adaptability and plasticity to drought. The mean pod yield of peanut cultivars were 1260 kg ha-1under P and 1130 kg ha-1under RF conditions, however cultivars ICGS 5, JGN 23, AK 265, GG 5, GG 11, GG 16, Girnar 1, AK 159, SBXI showed > 1300 kg ha-1 pod yield under both the conditions. The cultivars with early flowering and maturity high SCMR, low SLA, high yield and HI showed the escape mechanism and were considered as most promising for rainfed. There is greater likelihood of drought situation.Our study showed, Spanish bunch (VUL) group was more suitable compared to Virginia bunch (HYP), Virginia runner (HIR) and Valencia (FST) peanut group for desirable traits in rainfed condition. The cultivars JGN 23, SB XI, and Girnar 1 showed most of the desirable characters with high physiological plasticity and hence, can be of immense use for rainfed conditions.