Performance of the progenies of the cross between Erudurudu red and Serenut 3 red (advanced lines of Arachis hypogea l.) for broad spectrum disease resistance and yielding potential in Uganda.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the progenies of the cross between Serenut 3R and Erudurudu Red for yield, and tolerance to groundnut rosette virus disease and groundnut leaf spot diseases (early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori) and late leaf spot (Phaeoisariopsis personatum). Eight progenies were planted together with the two parents (Erudurudu Red and Serenut 3R) in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the first rainy season of 2020A. Data collected included: fresh plot pod weight, haulm weight, 100 fresh pod weight, dry plot pod weight, 100 dry seed weight, 100 dry pod weight. Data collected were entered and cleaned in Microsoft Excel then exported to GenStat statistical package for analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Means of the genotypes were generated to determine the best performing genotypes and separated using Fishers protected Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5%. Results showed significant differences between progenies and parents in rosette incidence at 8 weeks and rosette severity at 12 weeks (P ≤ 0.05). The susceptible parent, Erudurudu Red recorded the highest mean rosette incidence and severity whereas the lowest disease means were recorded for the resistant parent, Serenut 3R. Progenies SGV ER10004 and SGV 10010 recorded the same severity score as that of the most resistant parent (Serenut 3R). There was a significant difference in the response of the genotypes to leaf spot disease (P ≤ 0.001). Leaf spot severity was lowest for genotypes Serenut 3R and SGV ER10010 but highest for SGV 10002, SGV 10007 and SGV 10009. There was also a significant difference (0.001 ≤ P ≤ 0.05) between the genotypes, for all yield component traits. Genotypes, Serenut 3R and SGV ER10010 recorded highest mean values for hundred pod weight. Similarly, genotypes, SGV ER10007, SGV10002, SGV 10009, and SGV ER10010 recorded high mean values for 100 seed weight in comparison with the parents. Grain yield was highest for genotypes Serenut 3R, SGV ER10009 and Erudurudu Red but relatively high for SGV 10010. Of all the genotypes evaluated, the groundnut line SGV ER10010 portrayed high tolerance to groundnut leafspot disease and groundnut rosette disease with good yield although the yield was not very high like that of SGV 10009. As a recommendation, groundnut line SGV ER10010 could be advanced to further breeding programs.