A recently published ICRISAT study confirms steady yield improvements in groundnut breeding over time, while also identifying opportunities to refine breeding strategies for faster progress.

The significant gains achieved in the past 2 decades demonstrate how genetic advancements are translating into higher on-farm yields, strengthening national and global food and nutrition security.

“What cannot be measured cannot be improved. Measuring the benefits of our breeding efforts is as important as developing breakthrough varieties.

This study provides valuable insights that help us reorient our Groundnut breeding strategies to deliver future-ready varieties,” noted Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT.

Since 1976, ICRISAT’s groundnut breeding program has released over 240 improved varieties across 39 countries, benefiting millions of farming families across Asia and Africa. Notably, ICRISAT in partnership with NARS partners in India released the first high oleic acid cultivars, ICGV 15083 (Girnar 4) and ICGV 15090 (Girnar 5).

The study focused on two major market types of ICRISAT-bred groundnut, Spanish Bunch and Virginia Bunch and evaluated them for three key yield-related traits: pod yield, shelling percentage, and seed weight.

Conducted over a two-year period covering three to four growing seasons, testing ICRISAT-bred groundnut varieties since 1988, the research highlights the steady genetic progress achieved through ICRISAT’s breeding efforts.

The study recorded annual yield gains of about 27 kg/ha in medium-duration varieties and 25 kg/ha in late-maturing varieties, clear evidence of the groundnut breeding program’s consistent impact on productivity.

“This study marks a significant milestone. It demonstrates the value of sustained investments in crop breeding.

Each percentage increase in yield translates into millions of dollars added to the economy, more importantly, it means more food on the table and higher incomes for smallholder farmers,” said Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation, ICRISAT.

These results show that continuous improvement efforts are paying off. The study also found variations in the trait shelling percentage, pointing to opportunities for refining breeding strategies in that area.

Dr Janila Pasupuleti, Principal Scientist – Groundnut Breeding at ICRISAT, noted that while the results show a positive trend over the past two decades, there is a continued need to integrate advanced tools such as computed tomography and genomic selection in breeding. 

Looking ahead, ICRISAT’s groundnut breeding program is advancing toward a data-driven breeding approach, combining genomic selection, modern phenotyping, data analytics, and machine learning.

This integrated strategy aims to fast-track the development of 'breakthrough groundnut varieties' that are not only high yielding but are nutritionally superior, stronger resistance to pests, diseases, and drought.