Abstract
Leaf emergence rate on main stem (LER) was investigated using 30 peanut cultivars (cvs.) from 2 subspecies, under irrigated field conditions at ICRISAT Center, India, in kharif (rainy) and rabi (dry post-rainy) seasons. Three or 4 main stem leaves emerged rapidly until 6 to 8 days after seed emergence, but LER declined after then. Difference in the number of days to reach this turning point of LER was insignificant between 2 subspecific cv. groups in both of the seasons, although they differed significantly in the number of leaves on the day of turning point of LER. Initiation of flowering in each cv. group was delayed by about 10 days in rabi compared to in kharif due to lower air temperature during the first 2 months after sowing, and number of leaves on the first day of flowering differed significantly between 2 cv. groups. Leaf emergence on main stem progressed linearly, and LER before the flowering initiation stage (YI and YII) were higher than after the flowering initiation stage (YIII) and differed significantly between 2 cv. groups and seasons, but these differences were not apparent in the stage-YIII. Leaves showed remarkably a symptom of wilting between irrigation and/or rain for all cvs. in both seasons, but leaf emergence was not disturbed by such a water stress. This showed a contrast to daily flower production which was sensitive to the soil moisture conditions.
