RAJA RAJESWARI, VBHARANI KRUTHI, M2016-10-282016-10-282014143P.http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/82813The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the relative performance of groundnut genotypes for high temperature tolerance using TIR technique and drought tolerance with good yielding abilities using reliable, morphological, physiological, Water Use Efficiency, heat tolerant traits and yield and its components. A set of diverse groundnut germplasm comprising of 72 genotypes were screened for intrinsic tolerance using the standardized Thermo Induced Response (TIR) protocol. Among 72 groundnut genotypes, 9 genotypes ((K9,K-1609, K-1628, K-1660, K-1717, K-1719,K-1789, K-1801, TCGS1043)) showed highest thermo tolerance (heat tolerane) in terms of higher seedling survival without reduction in root and shoot growth. Two genotypes K-1609 and K-1719 recorded no reduction in root and shoot growth, but seedling survival was reduced drastically. The present study revealed that the TIR technique can be very well used in groundnut crop. The selected nine genotypes with high thermotolerance were further tested under field conditions for high WUE and other drought tolerance traits in terms of high physiological efficiency, biochemical traits and yield attributes. The field experiment was conducted during late rabi, 2013-14 at Wet Land Farm, College of Agriculture, Tirupati. Field experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design, replicated thrice with two main treatments i.e. adequately irrigated, imposed stress from 50-80 DAS (pod initiation stage to maturation stage) and ten sub treatments (genotypes). Growth and physiological traits viz. plant height, crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area duration (LAD) and WUE traits (SLA, SCMR) and thermotolerance traits (CSI,RI), biochemical traits significantly reduced under moisture stress conditions compared to irrigated control .Similarly Yield components 100 kernal weight, shelling percentage, pod yield and as well as pod yield and harvest index were significantly reduced due to moisture stress compared to control. The present study reveals that K-1719,K-1717 and K-1609, genotypes are superior in terms of heat tolerance, physiological efficiency, drought tolerance, yield and yield components.K-1789 possess heat tolerance with poor WUE and yield attributes, whereas, K-1660,TCGS1043 showed moderate heat tolerance and thermotolerance traits. Other genotypes K-1789 and K-1801 showed moderate performance in all attributes. The genotypes K-1719, K-1609, and K-1717are suitable for irrigated as well as rainfed conditions. K-1719, K-1609, and K-1717 possess intrinsic thermotolerance which can be explored as donar source in breeding programmes aimed for global warming.en-USgenotypes, groundnuts, planting, irrigation, biological development, yields, tolerance, crops, area, weather hazards, EVALUATION, GROUNDNUT, GENOTYPES, THERMO, TOLERANCE, HIGH WUE, TRAITSThesis