Assessment of morphological genetic diversity in groundnut genotypes through Dus descriptors

Abstract:

The study evaluated the Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) characteristics of 27 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes for varietal identification under the PPV&FR Act, 2001. The experiment was conducted during Kharif 2025 at S.V. Agricultural College, Dry land Tirupati, using a Randomized Block Design. Assessment of eight qualitative morphological descriptors revealed considerable variability among genotypes. Most lines exhibited tall stature, medium leaflet size, green elliptic leaflets, erect growth habit, sparse stem pubescence, and sequential flowering and medium 100-kernel weight. The observed diversity confirms the effectiveness of DUS descriptors for varietal identification, registration, and selection of diverse parental lines in groundnut breeding programs under dryland conditions. Substantial variability was observed among the breeding lines for all the traits studied, indicating the presence of a broad genetic base. The clear expression and stability of these morphological traits facilitated effective discrimination among genotypes. The study confirms the usefulness of qualitative descriptors in establishing varietal distinctness and maintaining genetic purity. The findings provide a scientific basis for varietal registration, intellectual property protection, and selection.