Abstract
The performance of twelve commercial varieties of Spanish peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ssp. fastigiata Waldron var. vulgaris Harz.) was studied at Junagadh (Gujarat) and Chiplima (Orissa) during the wintersummer season. The genotypic differences were highly significant for days to 50% flowering and pod yield at both Junagadh and Chiplima centres. Pooled analysis also indicated significant differences due to variety and location for the above two characters. However, variety ×location interaction was significant for pod yield alone. Though the flowering initiation began about 45-55 days after sowing, the crop remained in a dormant state because of low temperature for the next 16-22 and 13-15 days at Junagadh and Chiplima, respectively. The varieties commenced 50% flowering at about 70-77 and 55-63 days as soon as the temperature was favourable, thereby delaying the crop maturity by 130-140 days. The normal growing cycle is 95-105 days during the main rainy season. The pod yield at Junagadh was less by 23% than at Chiplima as the crop was exposed to low temperature during the early phases of crop growth. The varieties S 206, GG 2, TMV 7, SB XI, J 11 and GAUG 1 gave fairly stable performances at both locations: J 11 and SB XI could be successfully exploited, across the country, under mild winter and high temperature conditions. Since there were indications of varietal differences in response to photoperiod, temperature and their interaction, it would be desirable to identify and breed varieties possessing photo-thermo-insensitivity and early maturity for cultivation in the winter-summer season.
