Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part L (2025)

Thirty one diverse genotypes of groundnut were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications for the study of selection indices during kharif 2023. Sixty three selection indices involving pod yield/plant (X₁) and five yield components viz., number of primary branches/plant (X₂), dry haulm yield/plant (X₃), kernel yield/plant (X₄), late leaf spot at 75 DAS (X₅) and late leaf spot at 90 DAS (X₆) were constructed using the discriminant function technique. Discriminant function analysis indicated that selection efficiency of the function was improved by increasing the number of characters in the index. Among the single character indices, dry haulm yield/plant exhibited higher genetic advance and relative efficiency over straight selection for pod yield/plant. The index based on six characters viz., pod yield/plant (X₁) + number of primary branches/plant (X₂) + dry haulm yield/plant (X₃) + kernel yield/plant (X₄) + late leaf spot at 75 DAS (X₅) and late leaf spot at 90 DAS (X₆) recorded the highest genetic advance as well as relative efficiency and selection efficiency. However, in practice, the plant breeder might be interested in maximum gain with minimum number of characters. In the present study, improvement of pod yield in groundnut could be achieved by selecting the parents with these four characters; number of primary branches/plant + dry haulm yield/plant + late leaf spot at 75 DAS + late leaf spot at 90 DAS which is more desirable and practically possible to use by breeder than the index that includes more number of characters.