INDUCED MUTATION FOR HIGHER YIELD IN GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA)

An experiment was conducted during 1987-91 to induce polygenic variabi lity for yield and its components in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The seeds of 'JL24' and 'KRG 1' groundnut were treated with 30 and 40 kR doses of gamma-rays. The irradiated populations showed significantl y higher variability in the M3 generation. Selection was effected for higher pod yield in M3 and subsequent generations. A few mutant lines showing higher yield than the best control 'JL 24' were isolated in th e M3 and subsequent generations. Two mutant lines, 'GML 6' and 'GML 86 ', gave significantly more pod yield (2 385 and 2 382 kg/ha respective ly) than the national control 'JL 24' in M6.