IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 7, Issue 4 Ver. III (Apr. 2014), PP 44-49 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 44 | Page Effect of flower production and time of flowering on pod yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) genotypes James Seutra Kaba 1 ; F. K. Kumaga 2 ; Kwadwo Ofori 3 1 Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Italy 2 University of Ghana, legon. Crop Science Department. 3 University of Ghana, legon. Crop Science Department. Abstract : Field experiments was conducted to determine the role of flower production and flowering pattern on mature pod yield of three groundnut genotypes, and assess relationships among their yield components. The genotypes were harvested over seven weeks. A split-plot design with four replications was used. Five plants were harvested from a plot. Data taken were; 30 days flower count, weekly flower count, matured pods, number of pegs, days to first and 50% flowering. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in the flower production pattern among the genotypes from first to fourth week. Number of flowers was positively correlated (r = 0.41, r = 0.68, and r =0.33) with mature pods at second, third and fourth week respectively in ‘Kpedevi’ at 112 DAS. Moreover, number of flowers correlated positively at second (r = 0.16) and third (r = 0.21) week in ‘Chinese’ at 98 DAS. ‘F-Mix’ at 105 DAS showed a negative correlation with mat ure pod in all the weekly flower count. The maximum number of flowers produced was an indicator of higher number of mature pods in both the ‘Chinese’ and ‘Kpedevi’ variety. However, this was contrary with ‘F-Mix’ variety since flower count correlated negatively at all weeks with matured pods at 105 DAS. Keywords: Days after sowing (DAS), flowering, Genotypes, mature pods. I. INTRODUCTION Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) is among the major leguminous crops grown in Ghana and it is the third largest oilseed crop after soybean and seed cotton globally (Marfo et al., 1999). About two-thirds of world production is used for oil extraction and it is an essential source of vegetable protein and oil in sub-Saharan Africa (FAO 2002–04; Marfo et al., 1999). Groundnut seed contains 44 % to 56% oil and 22% to 30% protein on dry seed basis and is a rich source of minerals (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium) and vitamins (Savage and Keenan, 1994). Groundnut root nodules can fix high amount of atmospheric nitrogen and enhances the sustainability of the farming in Ghana, and the haulm is used as fodder (Marfo et al., 1999). The young pods may be consumed as a vegetable whiles young leaves and tips are utilized as cooked green vegetable (Martin and Ruberte, 1975). In groundnuts, the basic reproductive units constitute the flowers. Flowering and flowers play an important role in all seed crops, yield is dependent largely upon the basic reproductive units available. The total number of flowers produced depends upon the genotype as well as between the sequential or alternate type (Usha et al., 1988, Cahaner and Ashri, 1974). Ramanatha Rao. (1988) reported that Groundnut plants start flowering about 30-40 DAS and maximum flower production occurs 6-10 weeks after planting. Groundnut produces more flowers than the plant can sustain and develop into pods and less than 15 % to 20 % of flowers produced mature pods (Lim and Hamdan, 1984; Ramanatha Rao and Murty, 1994). Craufurd et al. (2000) suggested that flowering commenced 25 days after sowing and the daily flower production increased progressively with alternations of high and low production. The main flowering period spanned about 40 days after which sporadic flowering were observed. The flowering pattern was similar for all the varieties studied and consisted of two peak periods, one occurring during the first 3 weeks of flowering and the second in the later period of flowering. Though groundnut is indeterminate, flower numbers continue to increase until the plant reaches peak bloom at about 60 to 70 days after emergence, and then flower development will begin to decline. In bunch genotypes, flowering commenced from 26 to 34 days after sowing (Craufurd et al., 2000). Ishag (2000) also reported differences in flowering patterns between cultivars. He added that cultivars with a prostrate (Virginia types) growth habit produced more flowers. The total number of flowers produced by peanut plants was highly valuable, ranging from a low of only 18 flowers to a maximum of 142 flowers. He suggested that due to the wide variation in flower numbers, the varieties were not significantly different for the number of flowers produced; an overall mean of 57 flowers per plant was obtained. The Spanish genotypes of groundnut produced fewer flowers than Virginia genotypes, and this was associated with fewer reproductive nodes and a shorter flower production period. Also, Virginia genotypes are