Phenolic acid effects on peanut growth and oil production

Abstract

Plants of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L . var . P G No . 1) were given two foliar sprays of phenolic compounds (H-acid, 1, 2, 4-acid, resorcinol and RD-Brown) at 100 and 200ppm, 35 and 50 days after sowing . In treated plants, shelling %, yield (kg/ha), number of gynophores per plant and number of pods per plant were significantly greater than in the control . Oil content of kernels also showed a significant increase with all the phenolic compounds applied . These compounds increased the linoleic acid concentration so improving nutritional quality . The number of gynophores was significantly correlated with the number of pods per plant and yield per hectare . The effect of phenolic compounds on growth and development was independent of their structural configuration .