Utilizing Arachis Species for Improving Disease Resistant Cultivars

Twenty two advanced generation A. cardenasii, four Gregory x A. diogoi lines, and the cultivated checks Bailey, VA 98R, Perry and NC 3033 were evaluated at Lewistion, NC in a replicated leafspot test. The disease was extremely severe during the fall, 2017 and evaluations were made on September 25 and October 5, 2017. Both early and late leaf spots were observed in the field. Pod size was also recorded for each entry. On a 1 = no leaf spot to 9 = 100% defoliation scale for the October evaluations when leaf spot was more severe, the cultivated checks ranged from a rating of 6 for NC 3033 to 8.5 for VA 98R as compared to a range of 4 to 6.5 for the A. cardenasii lines and 3.25 to 4.7 for the A. diogoi lines. The four A. cardenasii lines and four A. diogoi lines will be tested for yield and grade during the coming year to evaluate potential for releasing them as germplasm lines.