COLLECTION AND EVALUATION OF GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.) GERMPLASM IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

Genetic diversity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) gerplasm from Niger state was evaluated for qualitative relationship. A survey mission was undertaken to all major groundnut producing areas of the State. The survey covered 8 towns and 21 villages in 13 Local Government Areas. A total number of thirty-seven (37) accessions of groundnut were collected from forty-five (45) farmers and assessed for qualitative parameters using groundnut descriptor. Result showed that 59.46% of these accessions were having deep pod constriction while 40.54% have moderate constriction. A 62.16% of these accessions were having prominent pod beak, 29.73% have moderate pod beak, 5.41% of the accessions have slight pod beak while only 2.70% of the accessions have very prominent pod beak. The highest number of groundnut accessions was collected from Lapai Local government (4 accessions) followed by 9 Local Governments ( Gbako, Bida, Lavun, Paikoro, Agaie,Shiroro, Bosso, Kontagora and Katcha Local Government) each with 3 accessions while, 2 accessions each were collected from Borgu, Rijau and Agwara Local Government. The major limitation pointed out by the farmers was the non-availability of improved varieties of the groundnut accession. Hence, there is need for scientific evaluation of these accessions to identify promising genotype for further improvement.