Evaluation of Some Short Duration Groundnut (arachis Hypogaea L.) Genotypes to Early Leaf Spot Disease Resistance

ABSTRACT
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important crop both in subsistence and commercial agriculture in Nigeria. Early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) is the major limiting factor to groundnut productivity in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to evaluate some short duration groundnut genotypes to early leaf spot disease resistance. The research was conducted at Research and Teaching Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano during the 2023/2024 raining season. The experimental materials comprised of 15 groundnut genotypes which was laid out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 2 replications. Data were taken on days to flowering, disease scoring at 75 days, pod weight, dry haulm weight, days to emergence, days to maturity, disease severity, 100 seed weight, pod weight, seed weight, and shelling weight, which was analyzed using SAS software version 9.1 The results indicated that, there was no significant difference in most of the agronomic traits. Genotypes like AMIZI and 088-P2-1 recorded least disease score range from 2.00 and 3.50 which indicate potential tolerance mechanisms to early leaf spot respectively, Rafet car, AMIZI and ICGV 226349 showed lower disease severity 37.60%, 34.75%, and 32.75% respectively making them candidates for further studies. The best genotypes in terms of tolerance mechanism and resistance to early leaf spot disease are ICGV226349, 088-P2-1, Rafet car, AMIZI and can be used by breeders for crop improvement. Further research could be carried out, so as to find more-genotypes that are resistance to the disease with higher output and economic value.