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Groundnut is an important crop for both the commercial and developing farmer in South Africa, providing a source of plant protein and oil. Commercial production varies from 80 000 to 200 000 tons per annum. The only research institute in the country that is involved with groundnut breeding is the ARC Grain Crops Institute in Potchefstroom. This is also where the only groundnut germplasm collection in South Africa is stored, maintained and documented. The collection comprises 849 accessions which are renewed in a five year cycle. The collection is well documented and the characteristics of many of the accessions are recorded in detail. The collection has served as the genetic pool for the groundnut breeding program since the 1940s and has been the basis of all the commercially grown groundnut varieties in this country.

The groundnut industry in South Africa has, for some time, been in need of a large kernel cultivar for both the kernel and pod confectionary market. The only available cultivars until now were Billy, a cultivar with a variegated testa, and Selmani, a runner type cultivar. Both these cultivars were unacceptable to the industry. The new cultivar, Rambo, will address the market demand for a large kernel cultivar, and compares well to the existing two cultivars with regard to kernel size and yield potential.

Black pod rot or black hull of groundnut caused by the fungus Chalara elegansresults in severe damage to groundnut pods and kernels in South Africa. The disease is managed most effectively by planting resistant varieties. The commercial varieties currently available, however, are no longer resistant. New varieties have been identified which show improved disease resistance. The most suitable varieties for commercial production are PC 253-K2 and PC 253-K6, which are selections of the Spanish type most adapted to South African conditions.