|Songsri, P -|
|Vorasoot, N -|
|Jogloy, S -|
|Kesmala, T -|
|Aakkasaeng, C -|
|Patanothai, A -|
Submitted to: Asian Journal of Plant Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2009
Publication Date: September 15, 2009
Citation: Songsri, P., Vorasoot, N., Jogloy, S., Kesmala, T., Aakkasaeng, C., Patanothai, A., Holbrook Jr, C.C. 2009. Evaluation of yield and reproductive efficiency in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under different available soil water. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences. 8:465-473. Interpretive Summary: More than 80% of the world’s peanut production comes from rain-fed agriculture where erratic and insufficient rainfall can severely limit yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and reproductive efficiency of a diverse collection of peanut genotypes under three soil moisture levels. Genotypes that had high relative yield under drought stress conditions also tended to have high relative yield under well watered conditions. High conversion of flowers to mature pods was the most important factor contributing to high pod yield under severe drought. These observations can be used by plant breeding programs to devise effective selection strategies for improving drought tolerance in peanut.
Technical Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses to difference in available soil water levels for yield and reproductive characters of peanut genotypes and relate these responses to pod yield under drought conditions. Eleven peanut genotypes were tested under three soil moisture levels (Field Capacity (FC), 2/3 available soil water (AW) and 1/3AW). Data were recorded for total number of flowers, pegs (reproductive sinks; RSs). immature pods and mature pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and pod yield at harvest. Drought at mild and severe levels significantly reduced Harvest Index (HI), yield components and reproductive developmental characters and the reductions were most substantial for pod yield with increasing moisture stress. High pod yield under drought conditions in ICGV 98300 was caused by high potential yield and low yield reduction, whereas high pod yield in IGCV 98324 was due to low pod yield reduction. High HI and numbers of mature pods are advantageous and necessary for high yield under drought conditions. High conversion of RSs to total pods and conversion of flowers to mature pods were the most important factors contributing to high pod yield under mild drought (2/3 AW) and severe drought (1/3 AW), respectively. Tifton 8 showed the lowest pod yield and poor seed filling under well-watered and droughts conditions.