Peanut Breeding for Drought Resistance1

Abstract

Abstract Because drought continues to be a major limiting environmental factor in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production, a breeding strategy for developing drought resistance was initiated in the early 1980's at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station. Crosses were made between advanced breeding lines and drought resistant germplasm. Rainout shelters were used between 60 and 120 days after planting to provide mid-season drought stress so that pedigree selection could be made within early-segregating generations. Eight pure-line selections from the GA T-2465 × Tifton-8 cross combination were first evaluation in irrigated yield trials. The Georgia selection, GA 901412 now GA T-2842, had the highest pod yield in two irrigated test during 1989 and 1990, and was found to have a 25% yield advantage over Florunner under severe drought stress during 1990. In 1991, this same drought resistant selection again had the top yield over 16 other Virginia/runner type cultivars in each dryland test at two Georgia locations. Thus, progress has been made in developing adapted drought resistant Georgia breeding lines, and such a breeding approach merits consideration for developing future drought resistant candivars.