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Cercosporidium personatum (CP) causes peanut late leaf spot (LLS) disease with 70% yield losses unless controlled by fungicides. CP grows slowly in culture, exhibiting variable phenotypes. To explain those variations, we analyzed the morphology, genomes, transcriptomes and chemical composition of three morphotypes, herein called RED, TAN, and BROWN. We characterized, for the first time in CP, anthraquinone (AQ) precursors of dothistromin (DOT), including averantin, averufin, norsolorinic acid, versicolorin B, versicolorin A, nidurufin and averufanin. BROWN had the highest AQ and melanin (15 mg/g DW) contents. RED had the highest ergosterol (855 µM FW) and chitin (beta-glucans, 4% DW) contents. RED and TAN had higher resistance to xenobiotics (p ≤ 1.0E-3), including chlorothalonil, tebuconazole and caffeine, compared to CP NRRL 64,463. In RED, TAN, and BROWN, rates of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (1.4–1.7 nt/kb) and amino acid changes (3k-4k) were higher than in NRRL 64,463. Differential gene expression (p ≤ 1.0E-5) was observed in 47 pathogenicity/virulence genes, 41 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and 23 pigment/mycotoxin biosynthesis genes. We describe the MAT1 locus, and a method to evaluate CP-xenobiotic resistance in 5 days. Chemical profiles indicate each CP morphotype could trigger different immune response in plants, probably hindering development of durable LLS resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precisely because of low nutrient availability and toxicities of nutrients unfertilized alfisols are unable to satisfy the nutrients requirement to meet plants demand. An investigation was carried out to assess the impact of biofertilizer inoculation (no biofertilizers, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) @ 10 kg ha−1, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) @ 10 kg ha−1, AMF+PSB @ 5 kg each ha−1 and AMF+PSB @ 10 kg each ha−1) and phosphorus levels (15, 30, 45, and 60 kg ha−1) on growth, quality, productivity and profitability of groundnut in alfisols of Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, in a factorial randomized block design during 2017–18 and 2018–19 growing seasons. It was discovered that groundnuts grew better with 60 kg phosphorus and 10 kg each AMF+PSB ha−1 and produced significantly higher pod yield (35.86 q ha−1), kernel yield (2.52 t ha−1) and harvest index (41.47%). However, inoculation and their interaction did not reach the level of significance, despite the fact that they responded favorably to the high phosphorus (60 kg ha−1) rate. Similarly, plots infused with 60 kg phosphorus ha−1 and AMF+PSB 10 kg each ha−1 significantly exhibited highest oil content (50.62%), protein content (31.93%), total nitrogen (269.71 kg ha−1), phosphorus (8.60 kg ha−1) uptake, nutrient efficiency ratio (40.79 kg kg−1), nutrient harvest index (44.11%), gross return (INR 2,44,388 ha−1), net return (INR 62,209 ha−1), and benefit: cost ratio (B:C ratio) of 1.96. In view of their intense need for nutrients, groundnuts thrived well when given an appropriate combination of inorganic and biological fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is the one primary issue limiting peanut growth and productivity. The study aimed to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), rhizobium (Rhi), and their combinations on phenolic content, proline content, growth, and yield of peanut under different soil water regimes. The pot experiments were carried out for two growing seasons under greenhouse conditions and designed based on a 2×3 factorial in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Factor A comprised two soil water regimes: field capacity (FC) and 1/3 available soil water (1/3 AW), whereas factor B included three different types of microorganisms: (i) uninoculated control, (ii) arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF), and (iii) a combination of AMF and rhizobium (Rhi) inoculations. Data were collected for growth, proline content, phenolic content, yield, and yield components. Drought stress significantly reduced in relative water content, leaf area, biomass, yield, and yield components of peanut, whereas leaf phenolic content was increased under drought stress. Higher pod dry weight was achieved under FC conditions (28.87 g plant-1), and it was reduced to 16.06 g plant-1 under 1/3 FC. Interestingly, AMF+Rhi synergistically increased the leaf area compared with non-incubated peanut under 1/3 FC conditions. AMF-inoculated peanut tended to increase biomass, while the combination of AMF+Rhi tended to have higher yield components compared with uninoculated control, especially for the weight of 100 seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, and particularly double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADSeq), has significantly advanced the development of molecular markers for crop genetics. This study used ddRADSeq to identify and develop insertion-deletion (InDel) markers in 25 peanut genotypes from diverse geographical regions. The bioinformatic analysis revealed 62,728 InDels across the peanut genome, predominantly between 1 and 5 bp, which constituted 96% of the total, while InDels of ≥6 bp accounted for 3.96%. We focused on 1013 InDels of at least 10 bp for further analysis, representing 1.61% of the total reads, with a distribution of 832 insertions and 181 deletions. Of those, 21 InDels were selected for primer design and successfully amplified to produce markers within the range of 150-400 bp. Approximately 9.5% of the InDels were located in coding sequences, enhancing their potential utility in genomics-led breeding. These markers' polymorphic information content varied from 0 to 0.371, demonstrating substantial genetic diversity with an average value of 0.163. These findings confirm the effectiveness of ddRADSeq for InDel marker development in peanuts, illustrating its potential to enhance marker-assisted breeding programs by providing robust tools for assessing genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Water shortage is a key obstacle to the sustainable supply of food to the world and Indian population, since largest consumptive water use. This research paper determines he water footprint of green and blue water for groundnut under an irrigated conditions during different seasons. Methods: The field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during summer, kharif and rabi 2016-2018. The experiments were laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. The main plot consisted of three levels of irrigation scheduling namely 0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 IW/CPE ratios and sub-plots comprised of four nutrient management practices viz., 75% of RDF with 5 tones/ha of charred rice husk, 50% of RDF with 5 tones/ha of charred rice husk, 75% of RDF with 5 tones/ha of charred rice husk along with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza and 50% of RDF with 5 tones/ha of charred rice husk along with seed treatment Arbuscular mycorrhiza. Result: The study revealed that the growth attributes, pod yield and haulm yield, rain and irrigation water content and water use studies of groundnut were registered higher with irrigation scheduling at 0.8 IW/CPE ratios along with the application of 75% RDF and 5 tones/ha of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza. The higher green water content has been recorded with irrigation scheduling at 0.6 and 0.4 IW/CPE ratios during summer' and kharif' 2017. The higher blue water content was recorded under irrigation scheduling at 0.8 IW/CPE ratios during all three seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut, also known as groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), is an important oilseed and food crop globally, contributing significantly to the economy and food security. However, its productivity is often hampered by pests and diseases. Traditional breeding methods have been used to develop resistant cultivars, but these are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. Recent technological advancements have revolutionized the identification of novel resistance sources and the development of resistant peanut cultivars. This review explores the latest techniques and approaches used in peanut breeding for pest and disease resistance, focusing on the identification of resistance loci and their incorporation into peanut using marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic tools. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, bioinformatics pipelines, comparative genomics, and transcriptomics have helped identify a plethora of candidate genes involved in pest resistance. However, peanut lags behind other cereal crops in terms of phenomics and precision genetic techniques for their functional validation. In conclusion, recent technological advancements have significantly improved the efficiency and precision of peanut breeding for pest and disease resistance and hold great promise for developing durable and sustainable resistance in peanut cultivars, ultimately benefiting peanut farmers and consumers globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the major goals of plant breeding is the selection of high yielding superior cultivars having wide or specific adaptation. However, there is a fluctuation in the annual production due to the sensitive behaviour of the genotypes under different environmental conditions referred to as Genotype by Environment Interaction (GEI). The current study aimed to study the contribution of GEI for the adaptation of groundnut lines for spring and/or kharif season. Methods: To assess the contribution of GEI, Multi-Environment Trials (METs) were conducted for 40 confectionery purpose groundnut genotypes at F9 generation along with checks, across three locations for two seasons (spring and kharif). The contribution of environmental effects, genotypic values and genotype - environment interaction values were obtained from genotypic variance-covariance matrix Gi = gA using mixed models (MM) in Best linear unbiased predictions (BLUPs). The pooled data was first partitioned into fixed effects of sites across the seasons and BLUP genotypic values (Ggge). The BLUP genotypic values are further partitioned into genetic value (Gg) and their interaction with the environment (Gge) for the adaptability of genotypes across seasons. Result: The results of MET revealed the presence of significant crossover interaction. The demarcation of advance breeding lines for adaptability across the environment as well as for season specific adaptation was done for variety testing. Genotypes having moderate to high Gge values along with high Gg values in spring than kharif, owing to their better performance during the spring season. CGL-11, CGL-23 and CGL-04 were the highest yielding genotypes, with quite high Gge values. This is due to the more favourable environmental conditions interacting positively with genotypes during the spring. Thus, the high Gg value(s) of genotype(s) alone is not a capable factor for commercialization as Gge value is the deciding factor for the adaptability for the targeted season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the cryopreservation of embryonic axes from the peanut genotype ECU-12466, demonstrating a successful protocol involving a 1 h desiccation on silica gel followed by a 1 h cryoprotection with Plant Vitrificatin Solution 2 (PVS2). The average dimensions of the excised embryonic axes were 5.6 mm in length and 3.5 mm in width, with plumule lengths averaging 2.2 mm. Notably, germination rates for cryopreserved axes ranged from 71.4% to 85.7%, showing resilience to varying desiccation and PVS2 treatment times, particularly at 1 h. Shoot length was significantly enhanced by a 1 h PVS2 exposure, while longer durations resulted in phytotoxic effects. Rooting rates were higher for samples treated with shorter desiccation periods, with 54% rooting achieved at 1 h of PVS2 exposure, contrasting sharply with just 16% at 2 h. The moisture content of the embryonic axes remained stable between 9.3% and 9.5%, indicating no detrimental impact from the applied treatments. To evaluate the protocol's broader applicability, five additional peanut genotypes (ECU-11401, ECU-11418, ECU-11448, ECU-11469, and ECU-11494) were tested. While cryopreserved samples demonstrated high germination rates of up to 95.4% after 15 days, the rooting success was significantly lower (25.2%) compared to the control group's 90.9%. Following transplantation, the growth performance varied among genotypes, with a success rate of 93% for ECU-11494. Overall, this study elucidates the critical parameters for optimizing cryopreservation protocols in peanut embryonic axes, contributing to more effective long-term conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore transcriptomic distinctions between resistant (CS‐319) and susceptible (JAL‐42) groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes exposed to Sclerotium rolfsii infection across different developmental stages. Employing a de novo assembly‐based approach, we analysed the transcriptomic response in these groundnut plants under control and infected conditions at 24, 72 and 120 hours post‐inoculation (hpi). Our RNA‐Seq data yielded a total of 133,900,261 reads, revealing 7796 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We constructed a gene regulatory network with 59 hub genes, identified 6783 transcription factors and uncovered 88,424 putative markers, including 17,236 simple‐sequence repeats (SSRs), 10,099 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 78,332 indels. Notably, the majority of DEGs were upregulated at 24 hpi in the resistant genotype, encompassing diverse functional categories such as pathogenesis‐related genes, defence‐related (R) genes, genes involved in plant–fungus interactions, oxidation–reduction‐related genes, transport, metabolism and proteolysis genes, along with transcription factors (FAR1, B3, GATA, NAC, WRKY, MYBC1 and bHLH), secondary metabolic pathway‐related genes and photosynthesis‐related genes. The up‐regulation of WRKY transcripts, associated with the activation of the jasmonic acid defence signalling pathway, potentially induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Conversely, these DEGs exhibited down‐regulation in the susceptible genotype. Furthermore, a total of 17,236 expressed sequence tag (EST)‐SSRs were identified from the unigenes, holding significant potential for advancing plant breeding through marker‐assisted methods, facilitating quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and evaluating genetic diversity among genotypes. This study's approach contributes to a more profound understanding of the molecular‐level defence mechanisms involved in the interaction between groundnuts and S. rolfsii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Groundnut is mainly grown in the semi-arid tropic (SAT) regions worldwide, where abiotic stress like drought is persistent. However, a major research gap exists regarding exploring the genetic and genomic underpinnings of tolerance to drought. In this study, a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population was developed and evaluated for five seasons at two locations for three consecutive years (2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21) under drought stress and normal environments. Results Phenotyping data of drought tolerance related traits, combined with the high-quality 10,556 polymorphic SNPs, were used to perform multi-locus model genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. We identified 37 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) (Bonferroni-corrected) accounting, 0.91- 9.82% of the phenotypic variance. Intriguingly, 26 significant MTAs overlap on four chromosomes (Ah03, Ah07, Ah10 and Ah18) (harboring 70% of MTAs), indicating genomic hotspot regions governing drought tolerance traits. Furthermore, important candidate genes associated with leaf senescence (NAC transcription factor), flowering (B3 domain-containing transcription factor, Ulp1 protease family, and Ankyrin repeat-containing protein), involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (FAR1 DNA-binding domain protein), stomatal regulation (Rop guanine nucleotide exchange factor; Galacturonosyltransferases), and associated with yield traits (Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 11 and Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 21) were found in the vicinity of significant MTAs genomic regions. Conclusion The findings of our investigation have the potential to provide a basis for significant MTAs validation, gene discovery and development of functional markers, which could be employed in genomics-assisted breeding to develop climate-resilient groundnut varieties.

This study aimed to assess total aflatoxins (AFT) dietary exposure levels and the associated health risk amongst ‘Nnam owondo’ (NO) consumers (adults and children) in Yaounde, Cameroon. A survey on NO consumption practices and consumers’ knowledge of aflatoxins was conducted using a structured food frequency questionnaire. ‘NO’ samples together with 5 laboratory-simulated traditional (ST) and 6 simulated modified traditional (SMT) NO samples, were analyzed for AFT using an ELISA kit. The aflatoxins' health risk was determined using the Margin of Exposure (MOE) and quantitative liver cancer risk approach. Adults and children in this study consume on average 122.5 and 99.6 g of NO daily respectively, 2-3 times per week. All pooled samples were contaminated with AFT (mean: 17.2; range: 5.41-34.02 µg/Kg). Around 62.5% (20/32) of pooled NO samples had AFT levels that exceeded the regulatory limit of 10 µg/Kg established by the Food and Agriculture Organization for groundnut-based foods intended for direct human consumption. Mean daily exposures (MOE) of the pooled samples were 0.03 (13.02) and 0.04 (9.98) µg/Kg bw/day for adults and children respectively. A mean cancer risk range: 6 to 10 cancer cases per year per 100,000 populations were observed for children and adults in this study. Application of the SMT led to a 62.2 % reduction in AFT level when compared to ST, with a corresponding decrease in MOE to 0.011 (36.36) and 0.014 µg/Kg bw/day (28.57) for adults and children, respectively, although the AFT dietary exposure remains a public health treat.

Field experiments during rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 were conducted to asses the groundnut production, soil biological characteristics, micronutrient content in soil and plant parts, and their uptake influenced by graded levels of phosphorus (15, 30, 45 and 60 kg ha−1), Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) application in Alfisols at Botany farm, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli in a factorial randomized block design with twenty treatment combinations which were replicated thrice. Results indicated that higher dose of phosphours (60 kg ha−1), biofertilizers (AMF + PSB @ 10 kg ha−1 each) and their interaction was found prominent in augmenting the highest bacterial, actinomycetes, fungal populations. Further, the combined application of phosphate and the AMF and PSB strain at higher level significantly improved the enzyme activities viz., dehydrogenase, urease, alkaline and acid phosphatase, CO2 evolution and SMBC compared to lower dose of phosphorus and non-inoculated treatment was on par with application of phosphorus @ 45 kg ha−1 with dual inoculation of AMF + PSB @ 10 kg ha−1 each. However, DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) status showed significant improvement because of various treatment combinations. Similarly, the application of phosphorus @ 60 kg ha−1 exhibited the highest uptake in edible portion of crops which was resulted in significantly highest pod yield (35.86 q ha−1) of groundnut which was at par with application of phosphorus @ 45 kg ha−1 (31.96 q ha−1) indicating beneficial effect for improving as well sustaining soil health in long term aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the pathogen's ability to survive in the soil for longer durations, soil-borne diseases are often difficult to control. This study investigates the multifaceted impacts of biochar on the management of stem rot disease in groundnut and its influence on soil properties and microbial communities. The effects of biochar at different concentrations, such as 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% on groundnut stem rot disease incited by Sclerotium rolfsii were evaluated thoroughly. Under laboratory conditions, biochar exhibited no direct inhibitory effects on S. rolfsii at varying concentrations but revealed an indirect suppression of sclerotial body production, suggesting a concentration-dependent influence on pathogen resting structures. Further, it was observed that biochar treatments effectively delayed symptom onset and reduced disease progression in groundnut plants, with significant variation observed among genotypes and biochar concentrations. Notably, interactions involving genotypes ICGV 171002 and ICGV 181035 with BC2 + Sr (3% conc. of biochar + S. rolfsii) and BC3 + Sr (5% conc. of biochar + S. rolfsii) treatments showed superior efficacy in disease reduction under controlled conditions. Field evaluations confirmed these findings, highlighting genotype-specific responses to biochar treatments. However, no significant difference was observed between BC2 + Sr (3%) and BC3 + Sr (5%) treatments in managing stem rot disease compared to controls. Biochar application significantly increased soil nutrient levels, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and increased soil organic matter content, EC, pH, emphasizing its potential to improve soil fertility. Overall, these findings highlight the potential benefits of biochar for sustainable agriculture through disease management, soil nutrient enrichment, and microbial modulation, warranting further investigation into optimal application strategies across different agricultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes are integrated in maize-based systems to improve soil fertility and crop productivity. However, the ecosystem services from legumes vary. Crop rotation onfarm studies were conducted over two cropping seasons (2018/19 and 2019/20) in Mkanakhoti and Kaluluma Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in Kasungu district, central Malawi. The main objective of this study was to evaluate maize response to legume cropping systems and mbeya manure. In the first season (2018/19), five treatments including sole groundnut (Gn), sole soybean (soy), sole pigeon pea (PP), and doubled-up legumes (legume + legume intercrop) - pigeon pea intercropped with groundnut (Gn+PP), and pigeon pea intercropped with soybean (Soy+PP) were grown. In the second season (2019/20), maize was planted on plots that had either sole or doubled-up legumes. These plots were split into two, one half was top dressed with 23kg N ha-1 only and the other half received 23kg N ha-1+1000kg ha-1 mbeya manure. The experiments were replicated in 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Soil fertility was low and highly variable between farms in the study sites. Soil pH, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), organic matter (SOM) and active carbon in topsoil (0-15cm) averaged 5.1±0.5, 0.19±0.18%, 31±19.6 ppm, 1.4±0.34 %, and 193±74 mg kg-1, respectively. Application of mbeya manure to maize increased leaf chlorophyll and plant height (p<0.05). There were variations in maize yield responses to legumes with higher benefits obtained from maize rotated with doubled-up legumes than sole legumes. The results also showed that on nonresponsive soils, overall, the use of mbeya manure in combination with legume systems increased the rotational maize grain yield by 88% over maize following legumes only (p<0.05), with highest yields from doubled up legumes/maize rotations followed by groundnut/maize rotations. It is therefore recommended that on highly degraded soils, farmers can increase maize productivity through integrated soil fertility management involving a combination of 23kg N/ha and 1000kg/ha of mbeya manure applied to maize rotated with doubled-up legumes (Gn+PP or Soy+PP) and sole groundnut (Gn). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Groundnut is mainly grown in the semi-arid tropic (SAT) regions worldwide, where abiotic stress like drought is persistent. However, a major research gap exists regarding exploring the genetic and genomic underpinnings of tolerance to drought. In this study, a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population was developed and evaluated for five seasons at two locations for three consecutive years (2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21) under drought stress and normal environments. Results: Phenotyping data of drought tolerance related traits, combined with the high-quality 10,556 polymorphic SNPs, were used to perform multi-locus model genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. We identified 37 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) (Bonferroni-corrected) accounting, 0.91- 9.82% of the phenotypic variance. Intriguingly, 26 significant MTAs overlap on four chromosomes (Ah03, Ah07, Ah10 and Ah18) (harboring 70% of MTAs), indicating genomic hotspot regions governing drought tolerance traits. Furthermore, important candidate genes associated with leaf senescence (NAC transcription factor), flowering (B3 domain-containing transcription factor, Ulp1 protease family, and Ankyrin repeat-containing protein), involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (FAR1 DNA-binding domain protein), stomatal regulation (Rop guanine nucleotide exchange factor; Galacturonosyltransferases), and associated with yield traits (Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 11 and Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein 21) were found in the vicinity of significant MTAs genomic regions. Conclusion: The findings of our investigation have the potential to provide a basis for significant MTAs validation, gene discovery and development of functional markers, which could be employed in genomics-assisted breeding to develop climate-resilient groundnut varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem rot disease, caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., is a major impediment to groundnut production in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas. The present study focused on identifying potential sources of resistance by screening a set of groundnut advanced breeding lines in laboratory, glasshouse, and field conditions. Two experiments in a glasshouse and a field were conducted during the rainy seasons of 2022 and 2023 at ICRISAT, India. Disease incidence was recorded at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after inoculation. The results identified five lines–ICGV 171025, ICGV 181035, ICGV 181458, ICGV 211107, and ICGV 171002–as moderately resistant, with less than 30% incidence. The remaining lines were susceptible, with more than 30% incidence in both field and glasshouse experiments. In the laboratory experiment, the response to oxalic acid assay was conducted using detached stems (laterals and mains), and the results revealed differential reaction after immersing in 0-, 20- and 50-mM oxalic acid, and the response was recorded at 12-, 18-, and 24-hours intervals. Significant wilt symptoms were observed at 24 h for laterals and mains in 20mM oxalic acid concentration, whereas in 50mM concentration wilting was exhibited at 18-hour intervals for laterals and 18 to 24-hour intervals for main stems when compared to control. Four lines–ICGV 171025, ICGV 181035, ICGV 171002, and ICGV 211107–were reconfirmed as moderately resistant through this assay, consistent with field and glasshouse findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nHIGHLIGHTSMicronutrient deficiency is a critical obstacle to producing healthy groundnut crops, achieving sustainable yield and quality. Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), popularly known as ‘peanut,’ is a vital edible oilseed crop across the world. However, achieving optimal groundnut yield and quality is challenging due to various factors, including micronutrient deficiencies arising due to imbalanced nutrient management in intensive agriculture. This led to global nutritional insecurity. Currently micronutrient deficiency in groundnut is addressed by soil application of individual elements, which has efficiency of less than 3%. A Combined foliar micronutrient mixture would be a practical, easy to apply solution for swiftly correcting multiple micronutrient deficiencies during critical crop growth stages. This approach allows for targeted nutrient delivery directly to the foliage for quicker absorption, bypassing soil limitations. Field experiments were conducted in summer irrigated groundnut during 2019 and 2020 in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India to evaluate the performance of four different grades of newly developed foliar micronutrients on groundnut yield and quality. The MN grades ranging from I to IV were assigned to increasing concentration of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B levels. Experiment laid in split plot design, replicated thrice with four micronutrients grades as the main plot and four different foliar spray timings as sup plots. Concentration of micronutrients and spray timings significantly influenced the groundnut pod and stover yields. Among the four micronutrient grades tested, the Grade IV mixture with highest concentration of all constituent ((Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B) micronutrients that sprayed twice at the vegetative and flowering stages recorded significantly highest stover (4120 kgha−1) and pod yield (2806 kgha−1). This optimal combination resulted an increment of 12–13% pod yield, 37–43% in kernel yield, 17–18% in oil content and 39–33% soluble protein content of groundnut over the control with no supply of micronutrient. Future research may explore integrating soil application and foliar spray of micronutrients for enhanced sustainability. Foliar micronutrient formulation can address multiple micronutrient deficiencies in groundnut crops during their active growth stages, overcoming all soil limitations and ensuring sustainable yield and high quality groundnut for nutritional security.Performance of four newly developed foliar micronutrient mixtures for groundnut were field studied during 2019 and 2020 with different spray timings. The objective was to identify the most effective combination to address the multi micronutrient deficiency of groundnut crop in Tamil Nadu and launch it as a product ‘Groundnut Foliar MN Mix’ of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The micronutrient grades ranging from I to IV were assigned to increasing concentration of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B levels. The Grade IV micronutrient foliar mixture sprayed twice during vegetative and flowering stage was more effective in alleviating the deficiency and improving the 37–43% in kernel yield and 17–18% in oil content over the control with no supply of micronutrient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as microbial biostimulant promotes growth and productivity of crops under drought. However, their commercial utility is constrained by their instability and low viability in field trials. Immobilization or encapsulation of PGPR biostimulant aims to provide physical protection from stressful environment and ensure a high rate of rhizospheric colonization. In this work, we immobilized Acinetobacter calcoaceticus AC01 in 2% alginate by ionic gelation process, and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo studies. The rhizobacteria was characterized for osmotic stress, indole, phosphate solubilization, siderophore, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, alginate and Exopolysaccharide (EPS). The encapsulated PGPR AC01 exhibited optimal moisture content of 3.57%, expansion rate of 80.62%, 95% embedding efficiency and diameter of 1.2–1.4 mm. The viability of AC01 in microcapsules remained 107CFU/g during 90 days of storage. The encapsulated PGPR biostimulant were also evaluated in Arachis hypogaea L. for drought mitigation. The inclusion of rhizobacterial microcapsules considerably induced maximum growth with significantly increased plant height, biomass, nodule count, relative water content, membrane stability index and osmolyte accumulation under drought conditions compared to non-encapsulated bacteria. Our results demonstrate that bio-encapsulation of Acinetobacter sp. AC01 in alginate matrix is a potential alternative for alleviating drought and a promising delivery system for agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the sustainable management of stem rot disease in groundnut, caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., using bioinoculants fortified with humic acid as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. It investigates the efficacy of bioinoculants such as Streptomyces albofaciens, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Bacillus subtilis applied both as a seed treatment and soil application, which resulted in a significant reduction in disease incidence and enhanced yield parameters.

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Banaskantha (North Gujarat Agro-climatic Zone of Gujarat) during June-October, 2021 to assess the effect of pre- and post-emergence herbicides on weed control in groundnut crop using Randomized Block Design with ten treatments and four replications. Among different weed management practices, two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly higher number of pods per plant, resulted in significantly higher pod yield and haulm yield (23.70, 1980 kg ha-1 and 3082 kg ha-1, respectively) which was found at par with interculturing and hand weeding at 15 and 30 DAS (22.90, 1892 kg ha-1 and 2950 kg ha-1, respectively), post-emergence application of sodium acifluorfen 16.5+clodinafop-propargyl 8 EC @ 165+80 g ha-1 (22.53, 1835 kg ha-1 and 2864 kg ha-1, respectively) and imazethapyr 35 WG+imazamox 35 WG @ 70 g ha-1 (21.93, 1800 kg ha-1 and 2811 kg ha-1, respectively) due to better weed control of weeds as indicated by significantly lower density of sedges, grasses, broad leaf weeds and total weeds as evidenced by correlation and regression analysis between total weed density at 60 DAS, at harvest with the pod yield. Whereas, significantly lower number of pods per plant, pod yield and haulm yield at harvest were observed under unweeded check (10.30, 846 kg ha-1 and 1333 kg ha-1, respectively) due to significantly higher density of sedges, grasses, broad leaf weeds and total weeds observed in unweeded check. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) holds significant commercial and dietary importance as a major source of edible oil and protein in Turkey. Stem, collar or root rot, caused by several fungal disease agent, are serious soil-borne diseases of peanut. Accurate and precise identification of the disease agent provides fundamental and precise information for integrated plant management. During the period from June to September 2021, symptoms consistent with collar rot disease, including dark-brown stem rot, chlorotic leaves, wilting, and eventual whole plant death, were observed on peanut plants cultivated in the different districts of Osmaniye Province of Turkey. The disease incidence ranged from 8.0 to 45.0% in the inspected fields with an average of 3.4% overall. Twenty-four single-spore representative isolates were obtained from surface-disinfected symptomatic tissues. Morphological characteristics of fungal mycelium, conidial and pycnidial structures on potato sucrose agar (PSA) and water agar (WA) closely resembled those described for Lasiodiplodia spp. All isolates caused typical collar rot symptoms upon artificial inoculation of peanut seedlings. Morphological identification of Lasiodiplodia spp. isolates was corroborated by MALDI-TOF and molecular analyses utilizing sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), β-tubulin 2 (tub2) and translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1-α) loci. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the representative fungal isolates (MKUBK-B1 and MKUBK-K22) belong to Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of L. pseudotheobromae infecting peanut plants in Turkey. This work is expected to contribute to previously limited knowledge regarding the host range, incidence and prevalence of L. pseudotheobromae as a soilborne pathogen of peanuts. Due to the potential destructiveness and broad host range of this pathogen, it is essential to develop new strategies to establish more reliable, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective management approaches for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study conducted during 2024 investigated the dynamics of Variety Replacement Rate (VRR) in groundnut cultivation in Gujarat, India, which contributes significantly to the country's oilseed production. The study encompasses 180 farmers from three districts in the Saurashtra region, where 40.5 per cent of the nation's groundnut production originates. The study analyzed the extent of the VRR which states that around 41.11 per cent of the respondents had replaced variety every 3-5 years followed by 30 per cent had no replacement from 5 years and the remaining 28.89 per cent of the respondents had replaced variety for every 2 years. The extent of VRR is influenced by gender, livestock possession, access to credit, occupation, risk orientation, innovativeness, and extension contact. Concerning the perception of farmers towards varietal replacement rate (VRR), 45 per cent of respondents exhibited a neutral perception, followed by 27.78 per cent having a favorable and 27.22 per cent having an unfavorable level of perception towards the varietal replacement rate, emphasizing the need for interventions. Occupation, innovativeness, training received, and awareness significantly influence VRR perception. There is a positive and highly significant relationship between perception towards VRR and the extent of VRR at a 1% significance level with a chi-square value of 22.32. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing production costs by replacing chemical nitrogen fertilizer (CNF) with natural nitrogen fertilizers from endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria is an optimally alternative solution to utilize natural nitrogen sources from biological nitrogen fixation to improve crop yields. Three levels of nitrogen (N) and vermicompost (VMC) application combined with Enterobacter cloacae strain Fg 5-2 (EC strain Fg 5-2) inoculation, which were carried out in 2 experiments, aimed to evaluate its impacts on the groundnut output. The 2 experiments consisted of 0, 20, 40 kg N ha-1 and 0, 5.0, 10 t VMC ha-1 application associated with EC strain Fg 5-2 inoculation and 4 replications. Results observed that 50 % CNF reduction, which increased up to 16.5 % of the groundnut yield compared to no CNF application, was no yield difference of the 100 % CNF application. Application of 10 t VMC ha-1 associated with EC strain Fg 5-2 inoculation increased up to 38.4 % compared to no VMC amendment. The groundnut yield of experiment 1 and 2 remarkably increased up to 19.6 and 12.9 %, respectively, with the EC strain Fg 5-2 inoculation compared to the non- EC strain Fg 5-2 inoculation. Application of VMC was the high efficiency on the nodulous number and weight of groundnut. Application of 20 kg N or 10 t VMC ha-1 combined with EC strain Fg 5-2 inoculation adequately reached highest groundnut yield. These selected results are the best associated rate to reduce CNF by applying EC strain Fg 5-2 inoculation to improve farmland nutrients and increase the groundnut yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semi-arid regions, production of good quality fodder is a challenge; cereal-legume intercropping can be a better alternative in improving forage yield and quality. The present study was conducted to assess the performance of feather Pennisetum (FP) in groundnut (GN) intercropping and for determining a sustainable forage cropping system. Therefore, an experiment was conducted with groundnut and feather Pennisetum as a monocrop and intercrop (2GN:1FP and 3GN:1FP), where FP was harvested at 60, 75, 90, and 120 days after sowing. The land equivalent ratio of intercropping was 15–29% higher indicating yield advantages and economic benefits over sole stands. Crude protein and fiber content was increased by 10 and 8% in intercropping, lignin content was reduced by 15% and neutral detergent fiber by 5% indicating the better quality of FP due to intercropping with GN. Intercropping of GN and FP increased the content of non-fibrous carbohydrate (13%), gas production (6.5%) and volatile fatty acids (6%) indicating better fodder digestibility. Furthermore, intercropping of GN and FP also increased the mineral content by 8-20% than sole stands. Apart from productivity, intercropping of FP and GN, improved water use efficiency over sole stand of both component crops. Considering, forage yield, quality and profitability, 3GN:1FP intercropping was superior and can be recommended as an alternative to monoculture. Our study concluded that in semi-arid regions double dual cropping of food and fodder can be achieved by intercropping which can provide opportunities to produce food and fodder simultaneously for livelihood, animal rearing and long-term sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to evaluate effect of replacing groundnut seed cake with brewers’ yeast-noug seed cake (BYNSC) mixture on laying performance of white leghorn chickens. 180 white leghorn layers (28 weeks) were used in a completely randomized design. Five treatment rations in 3 replications with 12 hens were prepared. The treatments were replacing groundnut meal (T1 (0% BYNSC + 18% groundnut cake meal), T2 (4.5% BYNSC + 13.5% groundnut cake meal), T3 (9% BYNSC + 9% groundnut cake meal), T4 (13.5% BYNSC + 4.5% groundnut cake meal) and T5 (18% BYNSC + 0% groundnut cake meal)). Daily dry matter intake was determined by subtracting ort collected from feed offered. Egg production was determined as hen-day (HDEP) and hen-housed egg production (HHEP). Crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy of BYNSC were 38.74% and 3153.07 kcal ME/kg/DM, respectively. Hens fed T3 had significantly (P 0.05) among the treatments. Hens fed T3 (2.3 ± 0.05) diet attained lowest (P

Moisture stress poses a significant threat to global agriculture, compromising crop yields and food security. In the quest for sustainable solutions, endophytic microorganisms have emerged as promising candidates for enhancing plant resilience to drought. The study's primary goal was to analyse the significance of bacterial endophytes, both rhizobial and passenger endophytes, in alleviating the effects of moisture stress. Here, PEG 6000 was used to test the drought endurance of the ten identified rhizobial and passenger endophytes. Rhizobium pusense S6R2, Enterobacter cloacae S23 and Bacillus tequilensis NBB13 were selected as best performing endophytes as they showed high tolerance of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) and maximum plant growth promoting traits like Indole Acetic Acid, exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, 1-aminocyclopropane1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, siderophore, zinc and phosphorous solubilisation even in PEG induced moisture stress condition. Metabolite analysis revealed that twenty-four significant compounds mostly belong to fatty acyls, amino acids, peptides, polyketides, and benzenoids were found in the root exudates of groundnut treated with endophytes. The best-performing endophytes were used in a pot culture experiment, with groundnut as the test crop. The current study found that co-inoculation of Rhizobium pusense S6R2 and Enterobacter cloacae S23 significantly increased nodule number, growth, photosynthetic pigment, anti-oxidant enzymes, and osmolyte under moisture stressed conditions when compared to other treatments. As a result, co-inoculation of Rhizobium and entophytic bacteria may be recommended as a bio-inoculant for groundnut for moisture stress alleviation after confirming the results in field evaluation.

This study examined the production trends and variability of grain legumes in the Global South from 2000 to 2022, with a particular emphasis on groundnut yields and regional differences. From 2000 to 2022, global legume production in the Southern Hemisphere increased by approximately 20–30 %, driven by rising demand for plant-based proteins and expanded cropping areas in countries like Brazil and Argentina. Improved agricultural practices have further enhanced yields. In contrast, groundnut production experienced a more moderate growth of around 10–15 %, influenced by favourable conditions and expanded cultivation in regions such as Argentina and South Africa. While demand for groundnuts remains strong, market fluctuations and competition with other crops continue to shape its production dynamics. The analysis covered a range of legumes, including common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), groundnuts/peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), soya beans (Glycine max), bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), lentils (Lens culinaris), mung beans (Vigna radiata), black gram (Vigna mungo), faba beans (Vicia faba), lablab beans (Lablab purpureus), tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius), African yam beans (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum), lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus), black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), moth beans (Vigna aconitifolia), horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), broad beans (Vicia faba), winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus). Regional data revealed significant differences in legume production. In Sub-Saharan Africa, cowpeas and groundnuts are vital, with cowpeas grown over 11.4 million hectares on average yielding 450 kg ha−1, and groundnuts covering 9.1 million hectares with an average yield of 1007 kg ha−1. Chickpeas and pigeon peas dominate South Asia's production, whereas Latin America features prominent soya bean and groundnut cultivation. Oceania's legume farming is less extensive, focusing on chickpeas and mung beans. Descriptive statistics revealed that Egypt led in groundnut production with an average yield of 3279.1 kg ha−1 and a low coefficient of variation (CV) of 4.89 %, indicating stable production. Conversely, Mozambique had the lowest average yield at 322.9 kg ha−1, with a high CV of 30.23 %, reflecting greater variability. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified five principal components explaining 70.9 % of the total variance, with the first two components (PC 1 and PC 2) accounting for 51 %. Bangladesh and Brazil were major contributors to PC 1, while Algeria and Senegal influenced PC 2. These findings highlight the considerable regional variability in yields and stability in legume production. Future research should address these disparities and enhance resilience through targeted agricultural practices and policy interventions.

Abstract This study investigated the consumer awareness, consumption pattern and the quality of unrefined groundnut oil in comparison with soybean, sesame oil and palm olein obtained from stores in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria using a structured questionnaire administered to 400 respondents. Approximately 36% of the respondents claimed to know that oil from groundnut oil is different from other vegetable oils. A greater number of the respondents (47%) do not consume oil from groundnuts. About 54% of the respondents use palm olein, which could be due to its availability in the market. Oil type did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the sensory properties of fried chicken. This study provided information on the consumption pattern of groundnut oil and revealed misconceptions about the presence of cholesterol in groundnut oil. Future studies are essential to educate consumers that groundnut oil is cholesterol-free.

Makurdi is in a strategic position in the agricultural map of Nigeria, producing a wide range of both annual and perennial crops such as yam, maize, rice, sorghum, soybean, cowpea, citrus, mangoes, and a variety of vegetables. One of the factors responsible for this wide range of crops is the favorable climate. This study was aimed at evaluating the suitability of the soils for the production of groundnut and to have a detailed soil database for effective land use planning. Soil requirements for groundnut were obtained from past research works and compared with data collected from the survey. The study showed that the soils of the area had formed under climatic environment presently characterized by an annual rainfall of about 1330.20 mm and a mean annual temperature of about 27.80 0C. The soils were well drained to poorly drained. The clay content ranged from 7.20 to 29.30 %, increasing with depth. Organic carbon was low (0.64 %) in the upland, but relatively high when compared with the low (0.62 %) value in the low land. The suitability assessment results showed that although, certain quantities or characteristics such as mean annual temperature, relative humidity and base saturation were optimum for groundnut cultivation, there was however, no highly suitable (S1) land for groundnut cultivation in the area. All the soils were classified into moderately suitable (S2f) subclass due to their low nutrient levels. COATRF I and II units of the area were moderately suitable (S2tf) due to topography and low soil fertility. COATRF III was limited by its imperfect drainage to marginally suitable subclass (S3wf) for groundnut production. To improve on the level of productivity of the soils for optimal groundnut production, management techniques such as continuous organic matter incorporation and mineral fertilizer application, and efficient use of mineral fertilizers with low levels of chemical inputs with adaption of appropriate irrigation techniques would make dry season farming sustainable