Yield Improvement and Genotype × Environment Analyses of Peanut Cultivars in Multilocation Trials in West Africa

Abstract

Yield trials are used in plant breeding programs to evaluate the yield potential and stability of selected lines. The objectives of this study were to evaluate yield potential, genotype × environment interactions, and stability of peanut genotypes for the savannah region of West Africa. Twenty peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes were tested at two sites in Ghana and two sites in Burkina Faso in 2010 and 2011. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Genotype, location, and genotype × environment interactions were highly significant, indicating genetic variability among genotypes across changing environments. Stability analyses showed that genotypes ICGV‐IS 96814, ICGV (FDRS)‐20 × F‐MIX 39, Gusie Balin (92099), ICGV‐IS 92093, and ICGV‐IS 92101 had broad adaptability, with above‐average yield across sites and a regression coefficient close to 1.0. Genotype ICGV‐IS 96814 produced the highest pod yield (1760 kg ha−1) across all environments and had a regression coefficient close to unity (b = 1.06). Therefore, genotype ICGV‐IS 96814 is less responsive to varied environmental and soil conditions. However, the released cultivar Nkatesari was considered equivalent in some respects because it had pod yield equal to ICGV‐IS 96814 but with a higher regression coefficient. High‐yielding cultivars, mostly from ICRISAT‐derived crosses, yielded nearly 80% more than the three farmer check cultivars TS 32–1, Doumbala, and Chinese, which had pod yields from 890 to 980 kg ha−1. The higher‐yielding cultivars had longer life cycle, greater leaf spot resistance, and higher partitioning than the farmer check cultivars.

Mapping Water Stress Incidence and Intensity, Optimal Plant Populations, and Cultivar Duration for African Groundnut Productivity Enhancement

“…By contrast, for crops that receive rainfall during the entire growing season short duration means also a shorter time for light interception and a potential yield penalty. This view is supported by recent study showing the advantage of cultivar types with a longer life cycle (Narh et al, 2014). The management alteration of plant density may also be important because it has a direct influence on the amount of water available to each plant, and also to the profile of light interception by the crop canopy.…”

“…However, while earliness would provide yield resilience in low rainfall environments, there is the possibility of loss in yield potential in situations of higher rainfalls. Indeed, a recent report shows the advantage of longer life cycle cultivars over short duration ones in Ghana (Narh et al, 2014). The hypothesis was then that earliness might limit crop productivity, especially in higher rainfall environments.…”

Genetic Improvement of Peanut Cultivars for West Africa Evaluated with the CSM‐CROPGRO‐Peanut Model

“…Poor plant stands may also be responsible for the low pod yield observed for some of the cultivars. For more information on this multi‐location yield trial, see Narh et al (2014).…”

“…Rainfall was more abundant at Nyankpala, Farakoba, and Gampela during 2010 from June through October; rainfall was lower at Wa in 2011 (Table 3). Further details on this experiment were provided by Narh et al (2014).…”

“…Crop models are valuable tools for determining which genetic or physiological traits have contributed to yield gain among cultivars in past experiments, and the knowledge gained can lead to designing ideotypes for genetic improvement for target environments (Boote et al, 2001, 2003; Suriharn et al, 2011). In a recent multi‐site peanut cultivar yield trial conducted in Ghana and Burkina Faso at four sites for 2 yr, Narh et al (2014) showed that improved genotypes, mostly derived ICRISAT lines, yielded nearly 80% more than the short‐season farmer check cultivars. The improvements were associated with a longer life cycle, greater leaf spot resistance, and higher pod harvest index.…”