Utilizing Arachis Species for Improving Disease Resistant Cultivars

Early leafspot (ELS) and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) have been the most persistent disease problems that the peanut growers have to confront annually in North Carolina. Although commercial cultivars available in the V-C production area have moderate levels of resistance to ELS and TSWV, stable resistance is lacking in these cultivars. Many diploid Arachis species have exhibited very high levels of resistance to ELS and TSWV with some also resistant to CBR and Sclerotinia blight. As a result, development of genetic resistance by transferring resistance genes from diploid Arachis species into A. hypogaea will help growers reap good quality peanuts with less input costs. It is anticipated that the selections resulting from the interspecific breeding materials will provide lines with high levels of multiple disease resistance with good quality pods.