Identification of major consensus QTLs for seed size and minor QTLs for pod traits in cultivated groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Hundred kernel weight is an important indicator for large-seeded genotype selection. A recombinant inbred line population was used to decipher the genetic architecture of seed size and three pod traits in cultivated groundnut based on the phenotypic data from six and three environments, respectively. The study revealed a consensus major QTL for HKW in B07 group that explained 10.5-23.9% phenotypic variation due to seed size. Further, two other minor QTLs were identified in B03 and B08 group for the seed size. Two minor QTLs for pod beak were positioned in B03 and A08. A minor QTL for pod reticulation was also mapped in the same map interval with the pod beak QTL in A08. Another minor QTL for pod constriction was co-mapped with the minor QTL for HKW in B08. The other minor QTL for pod constriction was placed in the neighboring map interval with the consensus QTL for seed size in B07 that suggests linkage of pod constriction with large seed trait. Analysis of the flanking markers profile in 71 cultivated groundnut genotypes revealed a strong association of pPGPseq_2E06 marker with large seed trait.