MARKER ASSISTED SELECTION IN THE TRANSFER OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE RESISTANCE IN THE COMMERCIAL PEANUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)

This project was designed to introgress root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood) resistance through backcross breeding into the commercially available peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) cultivar 'Tamrun 96' using Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) as the primary selection tool. Nematode-resistant lines were selected and crossed with Tamrun 96. Field and greenhouse screenings were conducted after completion of the RFLP analysis to study the reliability of MAS as a breeding tool. Resistant plants were identified correctly 85% of the time by MAS in the study. The high percentage of correct identification of resistant genotypes coupled with the savings of time resulting from RFLP based selection justifies its use as a selection tool, when coupled with a conventional backcross breeding program.