MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL AND AGRONOMICAL RESPONSE TO INTERMITTENT DROUGHT IN GROUNDNUT GENOTYPES UNDER SAHELIAN ENVIRONMENT

Selection of groundnut genotypes with high and stable grains yield in the semi-arid tropics would enable farmers to increase yields and improve their incomes. The objectives of this work were to assessgroundnut genotypes response toan intermittent water deficit at the seed filling phase and select drought-tolerant and high-yielding genotypes. Two experiments were conducted in two yearsduring off-seasons at the ICRISAT Sahelian Centre.Fourteen genotypes were assessed in adjacent terminal water-stressed (WS) and well-watered (WW) conditions in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Morpho-physiological parameters such asthe leaf area (LA)and the Specific Leaf Area (SLA), the yield and its components were investigatedunder WW and WS conditions.Our findings showed a genotypic variationand a significant negative effect of WS on investigated parameters. LA, SLA, HY, SY, HSW and HI were decreased up to 48.59%, 25.29%, 30.14%, 51.70%, 21.17% and 23.80% respectively.The genotypic variation observed indicated that ICG 311,ICG 4598,ICG 5663, ICG 6813 and ICG 12235produced the highest and stable yields underintermittent water deficit.These genotypes could be useful for groundnut breeding programs for selecting improved genotypes tolerant tolate season intermittent drought and high grain yield under Sahelian conditions.