Physiological Responses and Yield Stability of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes under Induced Early-Season Drought Stress

African Journal of Agriculture | Vol. 13, No. 6, June 2026 | pp. 025–032

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000737

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Physiological Responses and Yield Stability of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes under Induced Early-Season Drought Stress

Names of Authors: Amina S. Diallo¹, Ousmane M. Sanon¹, Boubacar Z. Traoré²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; ²Département de Biologie Végétale, Université de Bamako, Bamako, Mali

Abstract: Early-season drought caused by shifting, erratic rainfall patterns frequently halts early plant development and cuts groundnut yields in the West African Sahel. Breeding resilient genotypes requires an objective understanding of specific physiological traits that govern drought adaptation. This field trial assessed the physiological mechanics and yield stability of eight advanced groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes under two moisture treatments: fully irrigated and induced early-season drought (irrigation withheld for 21 days during the vegetative stage). Physiological markers, including canopy temperature depression (CTD), relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll retention, and stomatal conductance, were quantified. The drought treatment induced notable physiological modifications across all genotypes, but the magnitude varied. Genotypes ICGV-IS 13004 and ICGV-IS 15922 maintained a high RWC (> 76.5%) and cool canopies (CTD of 2.4 ± 0.15 °C) under severe moisture deficit. These two genotypes also restricted their chlorophyll degradation to under 12.0%. Statistical correlations demonstrated that a cool canopy during moisture stress was strongly associated with pod yield stability (r = 0.78, p < 0.01). Genotype ICGV-IS 13004 recorded the highest pod yield under drought conditions (1.64 t/ha), representing a minor 14.2% yield reduction compared to its fully irrigated counterpart, whereas sensitive genotypes suffered yield losses exceeding 48.0%. These results confirm that CTD and RWC are reliable physiological selection parameters for breeding drought-resilient groundnuts.

Keywords: Arachis hypogaea, Relative water content, Canopy temperature, Drought resilience, Pod yield, Sahel

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 18, 2026; Revised: March 28, 2026; Accepted: April 25, 2026; Published: June 15, 2026

Citation: Diallo, A. S., Sanon, M. M., & Traoré, B. Z. (2026). Physiological Responses and Yield Stability of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes under Induced Early-Season Drought Stress. African Journal of Agriculture, 13(6), 025–032. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000737

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