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Reproductive Allocation on Branches of Virginia‐Type Peanut Cultivars Bred for Yield in North Carolina
Author(s) -
Wells Randy,
Isleib Thomas G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2001.41172x
Subject(s) - biology , arachis hypogaea , point of delivery , cultivar , dry matter , main stem , dry weight , breeding program , yield (engineering) , horticulture , vegetative reproduction , botany , zoology , agronomy , materials science , metallurgy
Branching patterns have been altered due to breeding efforts in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.); however, the effects of these alterations are poorly understood. The objectives of this research were to determine the relationships that exist among branching pattern, dry matter allocation, and yield of 10 genotypes representing the span of breeding efforts in North Carolina from NC 4 to the present. Experiments were conducted in a 2‐yr field study at two locations. Numbers of reproductive and vegetative branches of individual plants were recorded for primary ( n + 1) and secondary ( n + 2) branches. In addition, dry weights (primary branches, cotyledonary branches, and main axis), seed yield, and yield components (seed weight, pod weight, shelling percentage) were determined. Reproductive‐to‐vegetative ratios (RVR) of n + 1 branch number, cotyledonary branch DW, primary branch DW, and whole plant DW were significantly increased with increased breeding cycles (BC) of hybridization and selection back to an indigenous line. The aforementioned measures of RVR were significantly associated with BC ( r 2 ≥ 0.48, P ≤ 0.027), and year‐of‐cultivar release (RELYR) ( r 2 ≥ 0.57, P ≤ 0.013) when analyzed as genotypic means. Mean BC values of n + 1 branch number, n + 1 branch DW, and total stem DW were all significantly correlated with seed yield ( r 2 ≥ 0.86, P ≤ 0.023). Relatively modest increases in RVR of n + 1 branch number and the greater time and effort required for its measurement renders it less attractive as a selection criterion than merely measuring dry matter ratios.