With 80% groundnut area under rainfed conditions, the drought of various spells and kind (early-mid- and late-season) is the major yield-limiting factor. In addition, various biotic factors like soil-borne diseases (collar rot, stem rot); foliar fungal diseases (early leaf spot, late leaf spot, and Alternaria leaf spot), virus diseases (PBND and PSND); and insect pests like thrips (as a vector of PBND); defoliators (Spodoptera, Heliothes, leaf miner); soil insect (white grubs) also adversely affect the productivity to various extent. Besides, contamination of kernels with aflatoxin due to infestation of Aspergillus flavus during pre and post-harvest stages and storage pest (bruchids) are also a matter of concern. Hence, the following thrust areas have been identified.
- Screening of germplasm and pre-bred lines of interspecific origin for the tolerance of drought, major pests and diseases, and salinity at hotspots and strategic locations
- Development of suitable cultivars with resistance/tolerance of moisture deficit stress (early- mid- and late-season drought) and major pests and diseases
- Development of Spanish bunch cultivars with fresh-seed dormancy (to avoid in situ sprouting due to early rains (summer crop) and late-season rains (kharif crop) at the time of harvest, and earliness to fit in to different cropping patterns
- Development of suitable groundnut based cropping systems for enhancing input-use efficiency (nutrients and irrigation water)
- Development of modules for soil test crop response base application of fertilizers at various locations
- Development of modules for integrated nutrients, insects and diseases management
- Development of agronomic packages for paddy fallow and potato fallow situations
- Development of cultivars with resilience for climate change