Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) genotypes belonging to diverse growth habits, namely, Spanish bunch, Virginia runner and Virginia bunch were evaluated for oil content and fatty acid composition in four environments. Variability for oil content and fatty acids was significant, within as well as between growth habits, in all the environments. Oil content was independent of growth habit. However, the different fatty acid contents were related to the growth habit. Both traits were significantly influenced by environmental fluctuations. Oleic acid concentration was highest in the genotypes belonging to Virginia runner, followed by that of Virginia bunch and a minimum in the Spanish bunch type. This trend was reversed with respect to linoleic acid concentration. Virginia runner genotypes, having a higher oleic/linoleic acid ratio, yielded a low iodine value oil and had a longer shelf-life. The genotypes with Spanish bunch type of growth habit possessed a higher linoleic acid content and can be used as a source of refined oil.
The genetics of phytic acid content in pearl millet (Pennisettum typhoides (Burm) S & H) was studied using a 12 parent diallel. The analysis of variance of diallel progenies exhibited significant genotypic differences. Different analyses, i.e., combining ability analysis, analysis of variance of diallel tables and genetic component analysis, showed that both additive and non additive gene effects were significant. It is suggested that a population improvement is possible by breeding for low phytic acid cultivars of pearl millet.
The study of phenolic content and activities of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase in relation to the degree of downy mildew infection of 12 pearl millet cultivars revealed that these were linearly related to the degree of resistance at both the 30 and 50 day growth stages. Useful electrophoretic differences in peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase were also observed with respect to the expression of resistance.
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