Utilizing Arachis Species for Peanut Improvement

Approach

The goal of NCS 20P was to utilize interspecific hybridization programs to introduce genes from wild Arachis species to the cultivated Arachis hypogaea. There are genes for resistance to pests and diseases in the wild species not available in the cultivated species, which makes this an important endeavor.

Achievements

There was not enough exchange of Valencia peanut germplasm from North Carolina and USDA to Bulgaria, the primary peanut type in Bulgaria. The lines exchanged were not adapted. In Peru, the achievements have been good with advanced breeding lines being considered for release. Several Arachis hypogaea x diploid Arachis species hybrids and interspecific hybrids from ICRISAT appeared to have potential for a breeding program to improve disease resistance. Further work showed that introducing genes from wild species is possible, but extremely difficult and time consuming, because it takes many years to recover fertile progenies.

Focus

Production efficiency