Screening Groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) Genotypes for Resistance to Early and Late Leaf Spot Diseases

Background for the Study: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop both in subsistence and commercial agriculture in Ghana. Early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and late leaf spot (Cercosporidium personata) are major limiting factors to groundnut productivity in Ghana.

Aim: The objective of the study was to screen groundnut genotypes for resistance to Early and Late leaf spot diseases.

Study Design: The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three (3) times.

Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted from May to December 2013 at the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute experimental site at Nyankpala in the Northern Region. The site lies between latitude 9°25´141 North and longitude 0°58’142 West and an altitude of 183 m.

Methodology: The land was done using a tractor and field divided into plots of 2 m x 5 m with 1 m interval between plots. Sowing was done on 3rd June 2013. One seed was planted per hole at a depth of approximately 4 cm. Early and late leaf spot ratings were recorded at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting, using a ten-point scale. At pod maturity, plants from the middle two rows of each plot were hand-harvested and weights of the above ground foliage and underground pods were oven-dried to obtain dry haulm weight and pod yield respectively. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Genstat statistical package (12th edition). Means were separated using the least significant difference at 5%.

Results: The were significant differences (P < .001) among the groundnut genotypes in terms of severity for both early and late leaf spot diseases. F-Mix, NC 7, PC 79-79, F-Mix × SINK 24 and NKATIE-SARI had lowest score for both early and late leaf spot diseases. Among the 21 groundnut genotypes, F-Mix recorded the highest pods yield of 1100kg/ha and haulm weight of 5867 kg/ha followed by NC 7 with total pods yield of 900 kg/ha and haulm weight of 5373 kg/ha. PC 79-79 had a total pods yield of 666.7 kg/ha and haulm weight of 4867kg/ha. The pods yield of F-Mix × SINK 24 was 533.3 kg/ha and haulm weight of 4600 kg/ha. NKATIE-SARI recorded pods yield of 500 kg/ha and haulm weight of 4633 kg/ha.

Conclusions: From the study, the genotypes F-Mix, NC 7, PC 79-79, F-Mix × SINK 24 and NKATIE-SARI were found to be resistance to both early and late leaf spot disease whereas Chinese, Doumbala, GM 120, GM 324 and ICGV 86015 were susceptible to both diseases.