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Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important legume and oilseed crop as its seed contains 44–56% oil and 22–30% protein on a dry seed basis. The present research work was conducted on 18 genotypes of groundnut including checks during kharif, 2018 at the research farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The objective of this research was to evaluate the performance of genotypes under rainfed condition in the field through morphological and physiological traits. The genotypes were sown in randomized block design with three replications in field and were statistically analyzed. The analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic differences among all the characters under study in rainfed condition suggesting high degree of variability among the genotypes grown. The GCV and PCV was recorded high for the characters such as kernel yield per plant, root weight per plot, pod yield per plant and proline content. Moderate GCV and PCV were observed for pod yield per plot, kernel yield per plot, SLA, SLW and harvest index. In this experiment, the characters which showed high heritability along with high genetic advance are kernel yield per plot, pod yield per plot, root weight, shoot weight, specific leaf area and proline content. Therefore these, traits might be useful in breeding and selection programme for further improvement of groundnut pod yield in the areas of Jharkhand state.

The present experiment assesses the relative effectiveness and efficiency of two widely used chemical mutagens on two well adapted varieties of Mungbean namely Pusa Vishal and SML-668 which was treated with 3 different doses each of EMS (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%) and Sodium azide (0.06, 0.08, and 0.1%). The relative effectiveness and efficiency was assessed from the data on biological damage in M1 generation and frequency of chlorophyll mutants in M2 generation. The mutagenic effectiveness was inversely proportional to the increasing concentrations or doses of mutagens in Sodium azide. Low concentrations were found to be most effective and had promotary effect on plant height, pods per plant, 100 seed weight, seed yield per plant, branches per plant and pod length while both promotary and inhibitory effect were observed for seeds per pod, days to flowering and days to maturity. Sodium azide (SA) was found to be more effective mutagen to produce high frequency of chlorophyll mutations followed by EMS. It was also found that the lower concentrations of both mutagens were most effective in both the varieties. The decrease in effectiveness with increasing concentrations of mutagen could be attributed to the biological damage (like seedling injury, lethality, and sterility) which increased with increase in dose at faster rate than the mutations. Mutagenic efficiency is referred to the frequency of chlorophyll mutations in relation to M1 damage. Both the mutagens viz. EMS and Sodium azide exhibited gradual decrease in mutagenic efficiency with the increasing concentration or doses with respect to seedling injury and lethality.

Field trials of 12 genotypes including nine hybrids and three checks, Maruti, Asha and Birsa Arhar-1 were conducted under rainfed conditions. Analysis of variance for all the ten characters for each environment and on pooled basis indicated highly significant variation over the seasons, except pod size which was significant at 5% level only. Highest pooled grain yield of 2259.5 kg/ha was recorded in Hybrid ICPH 2740, which was at par with ICPH 3933 (2131.8) and ICPH 2671 (2101.5 kg/ha) as compared to the best check, Birsa Arhar-1 (1689 kg/ha). ICPH 2740, ICPH 3933 and ICPH 2671 showed resistant reaction to wilt and sterility mosaic disease of pigeonpea. Hybrids ICPH 2740 and ICPH 2671 were identified as stable in respect of yield as well as infestation of disease and insect pest.