Bhat, Ramesh S.Meghashree H. M.2020-02-272020-02-272016-02http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810143742Five hundred and sixty eight advanced lines developed from the straight cross and marker-assisted backcrosses of an elite groundnut variety, JL 24 as the recurrent parent, and three donor parents (GPBD 4, ICGV 86699 and ICGV 99005) were evaluated for resistance to late leaf spot (LLS) and rust, and productivity traits during 2014 kharif. The lines differed significantly for the disease resistance and productivity traits. Moderate to high variability, high heritability and high genetic advance over mean were recorded for LLS score, rust score, pod number per plant, total pod weight per plot (g) and pod weight per plant (g). Significant positive association was found between LLS and rust scores. Pod number per plant showed significant and negative correlation with both LLS and rust severity. Pod weight per plant and total pod weight per plot exhibited positive correlation with LLS and rust response. Productivity traits were significantly and positively correlated with each other. Of the total 568 lines, 23 lines possessed significantly higher total pod weight per plot and disease resistance over JL 24. Most of these selected lines showed superiority over JL 24 for other productivity traits like pod number per plant, pod weight per plant, test weight, shelling percentage, sound mature kernel weight percentage, medium pod constriction, medium pod reticulation and slight pod beak. These lines differed for the number and combination of QTL governing LLS and rust resistance. Line 63 (W-61) carried a maximum of five QTL, line 112 (75-18) had a combination of 4 QTL and five lines had three QTL contributed by their respective resistant parent. Considering both phenotypic and genotypic superiority, four lines [63 (W-61), 112 (75-18), 84 (45-3) and 100 (54-10)] were selected as superior lines and were proposed for the next level of evaluation for variety development.ennullThesis