Evaluation of Selection Indices in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivars

In order to study and evaluate selection indices in peanut varieties, an experiment with 39 peanut varieties was conducted in 2006 as a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Tobacco Research Institute. For formation of selection indices, four traits were selected by means of stepwise regression. In this study two kinds of selection indices were used: optimum and base indices. Economic weights that used included: unit [1], phenotypic correlation [rp], genetic correlation [rg], direct effect in path analysis, heritability and first factor loadings in factor analysis. The comparison of selection indices efficiency showed that genetic advance and correlation of optimum selection index with genotypic worth was more than the base index. But, because of proximity of genetic advance in base index and optimum index and simplicity of calculation of base index, it can also be used for selection. For both base and optimum selection indices the weight of one and factor loadings as economic weights would improve peanut oil yield. On the basis of calculated selection indices three varieties [ICGV 92118 (25), ICGV 92040 (17) and ICGV 93134 (20)] were selected as the best varieties.