Response of Yield and Some Physiological Traits of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to Topping Height and Application Methods of Zn and Ca Nano-Chelates

Groundnut is an annual legume and important oilseed crop in the world. In order to evaluate the influence of the topping height and application methods of Zinc (Zn) and Calcium (Ca) nano-chelates on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of groundnut, these experiments were carried out during the 2016–2017 cropping seasons on groundnut in Iran. Both foliar and in soil applications of Zn and Ca nano-chelates improved groundnut yield. Foliar application of Zn nano-chelate in combination with topping the main stem 20 cm above the ground produced the highest 100-seed weight (82.19 g), seed yield per unit area (2722.5 kg.h^?1), harvest index (57.53%), biological yield (6540.00 kg.h^?1), oil yield (1486.76 kg.h^?1), protein yield (742.66 kg.h^?1), seed Zn content (12.08 ppm) and Ca content (35.86 ppm). The application of Zn nano-chelate had different positive influences on vegetative and reproductive growth of groundnut plants. Generally, optimizing of the nutritional status in groundnut plants with Ca and Zn supplements is recommended to enhance the quantitative and qualitative yield of groundnut.     

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) improvement in sub-Saharan Africa: a review

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a multi-purpose legume crop widely cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, yield levels of the crop has remained relatively low in SSA owing to a range of biotic, abiotic and socio-economic constraints. A dedicated groundnut improvement programme integrating new tools and methodologies to breed varieties suitable for current and emerging agro-ecologies and market needs is essential for enhanced and sustainable groundnut production in SSA. The objective of this review is to highlight breeding progress, opportunities and challenges on groundnut improvement with regard to cultivar development and deployment in SSA in order to guide future improvement of the crop. The review analysed the role of new tools in breeding such as, high-throughput and automated phenotyping techniques, rapid generation advancement, single seed descent approach, marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, next-generation sequencing, genetic engineering and genome editing for accelerated breeding and cultivar development of groundnut.     

我国龙生型花生的主要品质性状分析

我国龙生型花生的含油量变异非常丰富,变幅明显高于其它类型,高含油量,蛋白质,亚油酸和氨基酸逊于其它类型的对应成分,但低油分资源和高油酸资源突出,制品耐贮性好。     

Evaluating the genetic biodiversity of Bambara groundnut accessions from Nigeria using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Biochemical characterization of Bambara groundnut accessions collected across Nigeria has been performed. Percent (%) fat content varied from 1.42 to 8.16, while mg/ml protein values varied from 42 to 142. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed considerable heterogeneity in the different storage protein fractions. Polypeptide subunits of high molecular weights (above 200 kd), as yet, not reported in other Vigna species were observed in the profile of the protein fractions. The accessions also exhibited significant similarity in their polypeptide profile. However, the presence or absence of the 34 kd subunit band allowed the classification of the accessions into two. The 34 kd band was absent or not detected in six of the accessions (acc. 2, 5, 10, 11, 14 and 17). The results are discussed in the light of the controversy surrounding the taxonomy of Bambara groundnuts.     

Cassava-legume intercrop: I. Effects of relative planting dates of legumes on cassava productivity

ABSTRACT

Cassava is a long duration crop which grows slowly during the early stages hence incorporation of early maturing crops may improve resource use efficiency and hence crop productivity in cassava-based cropping systems. We conducted field experiments in clay and loamy sand soils, in two consecutive seasons, to assess the response of cassava productivity to relative planting dates of 3 legume species (Bambara groundnut, chickpea and cowpea) in a cassava-legume intercrop. Root yield, determined at 10 months after planting, was greater at 4 weeks after cassava (1.7 kg plant^–1) compared to when legumes were planted same time (1.2 kg plant^–1) and 2 weeks after cassava (0.7 kg plant^–1), and intercropping decreased cassava root yield by 40% (cowpea) and 26% (chickpea) in season I in the clay soils. Neither relative planting dates of legumes nor cropping systems affected root yield in both seasons in the loamy sand soils. Intercropping increased LER in season I by 25% to 65% in clay, and 45% to 101% in loamy sand soils. Although cassava root yield was highest with a 4 week-delay in sowing the legumes and LER greatest in cassava-cowpea intercrop, we propose further studies before making any definite recommendations.     

Oil and protein quality of groundnut mutants

Variability in oil quality was observed in four groundnut mutants (TG-1, TG-3, TG-14, TG-16) induced by -irradiation. The fatty acid composition of the mutants differed from their parent Spanish Improved. All the mutants had lower linoleic and higher oleic acid than the parent Spanish Improved. TG-3 and TG-14 had substantially higher linoleic acid and lower oleic acid as compared with TG-1 and TG-16. Other fatty acids also showed minor variation amongst mutants and Spanish Improved. The ratio of oleic to linoleic acid, which is an index of oil stability, was 2.7 and 3.3 fold respectively in TG-16 and TG-1 as compared with Spanish Improved.Protein percent in TG-1, TG-14 and TG-16 was higher than in Spanish Improved. Amino acid analysis of protein from mutants indicated decreases in methionine and cystine and an increase in tryptophan as compared with Spanish Improved. Other amino acids did not show any major variation between the mutants and Spanish Improved. In all varieties except TG-16, lysine was the first limiting amino acid; threonine was second limiting in all mutants. The essential amino acid content per kernel was higher in mutants than in Spanish Improved.     

Preharvest kernel invasion in groundnut genotypes by Aspergillus flavus and its relation to the pod surface area

Summary Field and microplot trials were conducted. In microplot experiments the soil was artificially infested by Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries. In field tests the percentage of A. flavus-affected kernels and in microplot experiments the number of A. flavus colonies emerging from 100 seeds was determined. As the geocarpoplane is the main frontier of pod invasion, pod surfaces were measured and the number of seedborne colonies per 100 cm² of pod surface were calculated for each groundnut genotype. Some genotypes, which were similar in colony incidence (counts per 100 seeds), differed markedly from each other in colonization density (number of seedborne colonies as calculated per unit area of pod surface). Cultivar EC-21115 had a low incidence of seed borne colonies of A. flavus; however, the number of colonies per 100 cm² of pod surface was high. Cv. Lavkan was low, both, in colony incidence and colonization density. Genotypes low in both these parameters should be tested as potential sources of resistance.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Voleani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel. No. 1149-E, 1993 series.     

Heat tolerance in food legumes as evaluated by cell membrane thermostability and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques

Summary The genotypic variation for heat tolerance in chickpea, groundnut, pigeonpea, and soya bean was evaluated by testing membrane stability and photosystem (PSII) function in leaves at high temperatures. The legumes could be ranked from heat-tolerant to sensitive in the order: groundnut, soya bean, pigeonpea and chickpea. The damage to cell membranes (as reflected by an increased leakage of electrolytes) and PS II (as reflected by a decrease in the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence) was less, and recovery from heat stress was faster in groundnut than in other crops. Prior exposure of plants to 35°C for 24h led to a reduced leakage of electrolytes at high temperatures in all crops but the differences among legumes were consistent. Substantial genotypic variation for heat tolerance was found in all legumes. Membrane injury was negatively associated with specific leaf weight in groundnut (r=–0.69^**) and soya bean (r=–0.56^**) but not in the pulses. Electrolyte leakage and fluorescence ratio were negatively correlated in all legumes. The potential use of electrolyte leakage and fluorescence tests as screening procedures for breeding heat-tolerant legumes is discussed.Abbreviations RI relative injury - Fo initial fluorescence - Fm maximum fluorescence - Fv variable fluorescence - PS II photosystem II - PAR photosynthetically active radiation     

Cytology and leafspot resistance in Arachis hypogaea x wild species hybrids

Summary Introgression of germplasm from diploid wild Arachis species to A. hypogaea has great potential for improving pest resistance in cultivated peanuts. This investigation evaluated methods for incorporating exotic germplasm into cultivated peanuts, especially for Cercospora arachidicola Hori resistance. Interspecific hybrids between A. hypogaea (cvs. NC 2 and NC 5) and the wild species A. cardenasii Krap. et Greg. nom. nud. and A. chacoense Krap. et Greg. nom. nud. were analyzed cytologically and for leafspot resistance. All F₁ hybrids were sterile, had irregular meiosis, and very few multivalents. They were highly resistant to C. arachidicola in field tests and had a 10-fold reduction of conidia per lesion in the greenhouse as compared to A. hypogaea cultivars. After colchicine treatments of F₁ hybrids, hexaploids (2n=60) and aneuploids (2n=54, 56, 63) were observed. The hexaploids had up to 18 univalents per pollen mother cell and very few multivalents, indicating a low frequency of intergenomic chromosome pairing. For C. arachidicola resistance, significant differences were not found among wild species parents, F₁ hybrids and two generations of hexaploids. Most hexaploids were stable at 2n=60 and embryos aborted when backcrosses with the respective wild species were attempted. However, when hexaploids were backcrossed to A. hypogaea, several fertile pentaploid (2n=50) offspring were obtained. Use of self-pollinating pentaploids is believed to be the quickest method to recover 40-chromosome hybrid derivatives in these hybrids.