Gene effects for pod characteristics in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

A study was conducted during kharif 1995 to estimate the relative importance of additive, dominance and epistatic gene effects in the inheritance of pod characteristics in 4 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crosses at the University, Anand. Most of the pod and seed characters were governed by additive genetic effects in crosses between spanish bunch and virginia runner ('Chico' x 'JSP 23' 'Chico' x 'GG 11'). In spanish bunch and virginia bunch cross ('Chico' x 'TMV 10') pod length and pod width were governed by additive gene effects while 10-pod weight, 100-kernel weight and shelling out-turn were governed by duplicate type of epistasis. In cross between 2 spanish bunch parents all the other traits barring 10-pod weight and 100-kernel weight were governed by additive and additive x additive type of gene effects. In all the crosses except 'Chico' x 'TMV 10' selection for pod and seed characters can be practiced following pedigree method of breeding.