Abstract

High oil content of peanut is a crucial trait for the processing industry, especially in developing countries where most peanuts are for a major source of cooking oil. Twelve peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties were evaluated at three northern Cameroon locations for two consecutive seasons in order to estimate variability and stability of performance for seed oil content. A randomized complete block design replicated thrice was applied in each location and year. Oil content was studied for genotype by environment interaction (GEI) using four stability parameters and, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis (AMMI). Analysis of variance showed significant differences (p<0.05) between genotypes, locations and GEI, accounted respectively for 60.00, 19.20 and 20.80% of the total variation. Highest oil contents were recorded from genotypes Blanc, Ad-Mapienta and Gobo-55-437, while lines NW-Red Esimbi and Ouest-A2 gave the lowest oil percentages. IPCA1 of AMMI was significant and captured the largest portion of variation (67.2%) of the total GEI. Stability analysis identified the high oil content genotypes Blanc and Campana as the best lines for multilocation trials. These varieties could be released .for cultivation and used in breeding programs and development of mapping population to identify quantitative trait loci governing oil content.

Key words: Arachis hypogaea, oil content, genotype x environment interaction, stability analysis, Northern Cameroon.