Legume Research - An International Journal
Year : 2000, Volume : 23, Issue : 1
First page : ( 37) Last page : ( 41)
Print ISSN : 0250-5371. Online ISSN : 0976-0571.

Screening of four groundnut cultivars from nigeria for drought resistance

Mensah J.K., Okpere Vera E.

Department of Botany, Edo State University, Ekpoma, Nigeria

Online published on 29 October, 2012.

Abstract

Germination studies on the seeds of four groundnuts (Arachis hypogea L., cultivars: Ex-Dakar RRB 12, RMP 12, RMP 91) under different osmotic solutions in the laboratory as a means of screening for drought resistance is reported. These laboratory results have also been compat Ed to sane agronomic and yield parameters of plants grown under simulated drought conditions in the field. Maximum germination percentage, radicle length and dry weight measurements were attainted in two cultivars, viz: RMP 91 and Ex-Dakar and were therefore identified as the drought resistant cultivars. Susceptibility of the cultivars to drought was shown by the relatively greater reduction in yield per plant compared to the resistant cultivars. The labotatoty results showed that germination of seeds in polyethylene glycol (PEG), glucose or sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions at 1.2 Mpa and 1.8 Mpa could be reliably used as a quick and cost effective procedure for screening groundnut cultivars for drought resistance at an early stage of their growth and development.

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