Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences ISSN 2381-3911 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 149-155, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment on variation among genotypes of kersting’s groundnut in Northern Ghana

*Akosua G. Mensah, Abedi Dramani Gyan and Asamoah Marcel Yeboah

University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 16 June, 2016

Abstract 

A study was carried out on Kersting’s groundnut, which was collected from fourteen communities in Northern Ghana, to evaluate the growth and yield potential of sixteen genotypes having three seed colours white, black and mottled. Some growth parameters were taken, and among these parameters, only leaf area index showed significant differences among colour types (P<0.05) and genotypes (P<0.05). In general, white-coloured and mottled genotype seeds performed better than black seeded genotypes. Pod number and nodule number per plant were not significantly different among the genotypes. However, 100-seed weight and seed yield showed variation among colour types and also genotypes. Yields ranging from 192 to 688 kg/ha were obtained. The relatively good performance exhibited by white and mottled seeded genotypes and variation in yield offer opportunities for varietal improvement of the crop and required research attention.

Keywords: Kersting’s groundnut, Macrotyloma geocarpum, legume, growth, genotypes.