Evaluation of variability in seed coat color, weight, oil content, and fatty acid composition within the entire USDA‐cultivated peanut germplasm collection

Abstract

Natural genetic diversity in plant germplasm collections provides the genetic variability for crop improvement. To explore this natural genetic variability, over 8,800 accessions within the USDA cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) germplasm collection were evaluated for several seed quality traits including seed coat color, 100‐seed weight, oil content, and fatty acid composition. After removing contaminated and/or mixed accessions, the remaining 8,466 accessions were used for further data analysis. The mean of 100‐seed weight was 49.44 g with a wide range of 21.84 to 148.36 g (6.8‐fold difference). Six accessions (PI 414995, PI 648234, PI 318740, PI 336978, PI 320059, and PI 578229) with 100‐seed weight >110 g were identified. The mean of oil content was 48.94% with a range of 36.51 to 59.45% (1.6‐fold difference). Seven accessions (PI 471949, PI 472001, PI 497369, PI 442739, PI 343423, PI 161298, and PI 668582) with oil content >58% were identified. The mean of oleic acid was 45.2% with a wide range of 39.99 to 82.08% (2.1‐fold difference). The mean of linoleic acid was 32.56% with a wide range of 2.0 to 46.68% (23.3‐fold difference). Thirty‐seven accessions were identified with >65% oleic acid. Among them, PI 636472 and PI 596800 had the highest level of oleic acid (82.1 and 81.8%, respectively). Significant variation in these traits was also identified between subspecies and among botanical varieties. Some significantly positive and negative correlations among these traits were also determined. The results presented here will be useful for peanut breeders, geneticists, and other users.

Genotype, environment, and their interaction effects on peanut seed protein, oil, and fatty acid content variability

“…In this study, 52 peanut germplasm accessions were selected from the evaluation data obtained from 8000 plus USDA cultivated peanut germplasm accessions analyzed for different nutritional traits (Wang et al., 2022). Stored seeds of the 52 accessions were requested from the seed storage and used directly for the experiments across three locations.…”

“…Admixture accessions have been identified in the peanut germplasm collection. Based on the seed coat color differences, we identified 301 admixture accessions from 8767 cultivated peanut germplasm accessions (Wang et al., 2022). Depending on the evaluation or utilization purposes, admixtures may need to be identified before using the requested germplasm accessions.…”

“…The entire USDA‐cultivated peanut germplasm collection was screened for oil and fatty acid composition (Wang et al., 2022). After screening, 52 accessions that varied in oil (37%–59%) and oleic acid (31%–82%) content were selected.…”

“…To properly evaluate the effects of G, E, and G × E interaction on seed nutritional quality, an experiment with multiple years, locations, and diverse genotypes is required. After screening the entire USDA cultivated peanut germplasm collection for oil content and fatty acid composition (Wang et al., 2022), a diverse panel of 52 accessions with oil content and oleic acid variation was selected and grown in 2017 and 2018 in Byron, GA, Citra, FL, and Clovis, NM. Georgia is a main peanut production state in the United States, and the locations in New Mexico and Florida provided different environmental conditions.…”