There are three types of varieties in groundnut, bunch types with react plant habit, spreading and semi-spreading types. The bunch types have light green foliage, comparatively broad leaflets and mature early. However, they are usually susceptible to tikka disease. The spreading types usually have dark green foliage with smaller leaflets. These are usually late in maturity. The semi-spreading varieties are intermediate between the bunch and the spreading types.

A number of promising varieties have been evolved in various groundnut growing states for commercial cultivation.

Description of some of the important varieties of groundnut is given below:

Jyoti: It is a bunch type of variety with dark green foliage. It matures in 95-110 days. It is susceptible to tikka disease. It is suitable for growing in Madhya Pradesh. It yields about 12-15 quintals per hectare under rainfed conditions and 20-22 quintals per hectare under irrigated conditions. Seeds are bold and contain 53 per cent oil. Its shelling out turn is 78 per cent.

RS-1: It is a spreading variety. It matures in 135-140 days. It is tolerant lo tikka disease. It is suitable for growing on sandy soils of Rajasthan. It yields about 15-20 quintals per hectare. It has 77 per cent shelling out turn. Seeds are of medium size and contain 48 per cent oil.

Type-28: It is a spreading variety. Foliage is of dark green colour. It matures in 125-135 days. It is tolerant to tikka disease to some extent. Seeds are of medium size. Its yield potential is 20-25 quintals per hectare. Its shelling out turn is 72 per cent. It contains about 48 per cent oil. This variety is suitable for growing in Uttar Pradesh.

Type-64: It is a semi-spreading variety. Foliage is of dark green colour. It matures in 115-120 days. It is also tolerant to tikka disease to some extent. Seeds are bold and attractive. Its yield potential is 20-25 quintals per hectare. Its shelling out turn is 70 per cent. It contains about 49 per cent oil. It is suitable for growing in Uttar Pradesh.

Chandra: It is a spreading variety. Foliage is of dark green colour. It matures in 125-135 days. Its yield potential is 20-30 quintals per hectare. Seeds are bold and contain 48 per cent oil. Its shelling out turn is 72 per cent. It is very suitable for growing in Uttar Pradesh.

Chitra: It is a semi-spreading variety. Foliage is of dark green colour, It matures in 125-130 days. Us yield potential is 25-30 quintals per hectare. Seeds are of medium size and contain 49 per cent oil. Its shelling percentage is 72, It is suitable for growing in Uttar Pradesh.

Groundnut is the major oilseed of India. . It accounts for around 25% of the total oilseed production of the country. Annual production of seed and oil are around 5-8 and 1.5 million tons respectively.

Production is highly vulnerable to rainfall deviations and display huge fluctuation between years.

Gujarat (1-3.5 million tons), Tamil Nadu (1million tons), Andhra Pradesh (1-2 million tons), Karnataka (0.5 million tons), Maharashtra (0.5 million tons) are the major producers of seed.

Around 75% of the crop is produced in khariff (June - September) and remaining 25% in rabi (November - March).

India exported around 1 lakh tons of groundnut oil in 2003-04 after 4 decades, as crop failed in Senegal and Argentina.