VARL\.TION IN ARRANGEMENT OF VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE NODES ON LATERAL BRANCHES OF TWO VIRGINIA FORMS OF PEANUT GERMPLASM

Abstract

The arrangement ofvegetative and reproductive nodes were examined on
basal, primary and secondary branches of 75 accessions each of Virginia
b~nch and Virginia runner forms ofcultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.
ssp. hypogaea Krap. et. Rig. var. hypogaea Krap. et. Greg.). The main axis
was devoid offlowers (inflorescences) on all the plants ofboth the forms. The
node sequence, in general, started with vegetative nodes on primary branches
and reproductive nodes on secondary branches in both the forms. There was
predominant occurrence of one to five reproductive nodes on secondary
branches of both the forms. A few accessions had a continuous sequence of
three to five reproductive nodes on secondary branches. On primary branches
ofVirginia bunch collection, three alternate irregularpairs ofnode sequences
starting with vegetative nOdes were recorded in 43.1%plants followed by four
pairs in 25.9%plants, whereas in Virginia runner, four pairs (37.%) followed
by threepairs (27.7%) were frequent. On the other hand