Development of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Breeding Populations for Yield and Late leaf Spot Resistance under Togo Conditions
Essohouna Modom Banla *
Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), BP1163 Lome, Togo.
Palanga Koffi Kibalou
Université de Kara (UK), BP 404, Kara, Togo.
Dewa Kassa Messan Koussakana
Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), BP1163 Lome, Togo.
Ali Essohouna
Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), BP1163 Lome, Togo.
P'zèm Emeline Bouwaï
Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), BP1163 Lome, Togo.
Laré Baname Kantchiante
Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), BP1163 Lome, Togo.
Obaiya Grace Utoblo
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Nigeria.
Agnassim Banito
Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie, Université de Lomé, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The development and release of high-yielding, late leaf spot (LLS)-resistant groundnut varieties have significant market potential in Togo and West Africa. This study aimed to identify suitable breeding populations for developing farmer-preferred, LLS-resistant varieties.
Study Design: F2 progenies from a North Carolina II factorial mating design were evaluated across three agroecological environments in Togo using an alpha lattice design.
Place and Duration of Study: F1S were produced at ICRISAT-WCA in Bamako (August–September 2019), and 16 F2 families were assessed across four agroecological zones in Togo (April–November 2021).
Methodology: Eight genotypes were crossed in a factorial mating design. Genetic analysis was used to assess LLS resistance and yield-related traits of the F2 progenies. General combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), and heritability (h²) were estimated, and correlations between traits and marker-based genetic distances were evaluated.
Results: LLS resistance was mainly governed by additive gene effects (h² = 0.86–0.89), while most yield traits also showed additive variance (h² = 0.73–0.86), except pod weight. Significant GCA correlations were observed between LLS, hundred-seed weight (r = 0.90; P = 0.008), and shelling percentage (r = 0.83; P = 0.04), indicating that a selection index approach would be effective. No correlation was found between SNP-based genetic distance and SCA. Populations derived from lines 43AH and ICG7878 exhibited the highest GCA and are promising for LLS-resistant variety development, while populations from lines 12CS22 and 12CS36 are recommended for high-yielding variety advancement.
Conclusion: Additive gene effects predominate for LLS resistance and most yield traits, suggesting strong potential for genetic improvement. Specific F2 populations have been identified as promising candidates for developing farmer-preferred, high-yielding, LLS-resistant groundnut varieties in Togo.
Keywords: Groundnut varieties, genetic, high yield, late leaf spot resistance, breeding