Yield evaluation of guar genotypes (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.) selected for high-density planting and mechanical harvesting

Carlos M. G. Reis, Celestino M. Almeida, Luis F. V. Peças and José P. F. Almeida

Abstract: Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is an annual and self-pollinated crop with a spring-summer cycle that belongs to Fabaceae family. Guar has been assuming increasing importance among agro-industrial crops due to the high galactomannan content of its seeds. Fifteen unbranched genotypes selected for a high-density planting and mechanical harvesting were evaluated for agronomic and yield traits. Ten morphological traits were studied for the analysis of variance, correlation, path coefficient analysis and principal components. The analysis of variance exhibited statistically significant differences among genotypes for all traits studied. The seed plant yield ranged from 13.5 to 25.0 g with mean 19.2 g. The highest significant positive correlation was observed between seed plant yield and number of pods per plant (r=0.806). Likewise, the path coefficient analysis showed that the number of pods per plant (0.72) exerted significantly positive direct effect on seed yield per plant. The PCA showed three components with eigenvalues greater than one, which explained 80.7% of the total variation. Among the fifteen genotypes studied, CB06, CB09, CB12 and CB14 were the most promising for a high-density planting and mechanical harvesting. The information presented in this manuscript is useful in breeding and development of guar genotypes for high-density planting and mechanical harvesting in Mediterranean environment.

Keywords: clusterbean; morphological traits; principal component analysis; seed yield

Date published: 2021-10-19