Root morphological response and P uptake of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes for phosphorous efficiency

An experiment was conducted to screen 20 groundnut genotypes for tolerance to phosphorus (P) insufficiency. Significant genotypic variation among genotypes were observed under both P sufficient and deficient treatments. The study revealed that the mean root length and shoot length recorded high in P sufficient soils compared to P deficient soils. The genotypes TCGS 1624, 1616, Greeshma and TCGS 1517 recorded high root length whereas TCGS 1622 recorded lowest root length. The mean root biomass showed no significant differences among P treatments whereas, shoot biomass recorded high in P sufficient soils compared to P deficient soils. Among the genotypes, TCGS 1624, Greeshma, TCGS 1616 and 1621 and 1622 recorded high root biomass in P deficient soils whereas, shoot biomass was found maximum in TCGS 1624, 1616, Greeshma and TCGS 1517. The mean root shoot ratio recorded high in P deficient soils compared to P sufficient soils and among the genotypes, root shoot ratio recorded highest in TCGS 1622, 1624, 1616 and Greeshma whereas shoot P % recorded highest in TCGS 1622, Greeshma, TCGS 1616 and 1624. Pod yields recorded high in TCGS 1624, 1616 and Greeshma in P deficient soils. Hence it can be concluded that, TCGS 1624, Greeshma, 1616 can be identified as P efficient groundnut lines based on their high root mining traits, shoot P % and pod yield.