Regeneration and Genetic Transformation in Peanut: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. has long been the focus of conventional plant breeding efforts because of its importance as a source of high quality oil and protein. Recent techniques in genetic engineering coupled with developments in regeneration technology can be used for introduction of agronomically useful traits into established cultivars, which will supplement the conventional breeding programmes. Rapid strides have been made in the last two decades to develop a regeneration system for peanut. Highly reproducible regeneration systems through proliferation of axillary buds around a cultured meristem, de novo shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis are available today as target expiants for experiments on transformation. Success has been achieved in the development of transgenic plants using both Agrobacterium-mediated and direct DNA transfer using particle gun bombardment. Several useful genes have already been transferred to peanut using gene transfer techniques. Peanut production is severely limited by a number of diseases and pests and one of the most challenging needs of the day is to improve resistance to Aspergillus species which produce anatoxins — which are potent carcinogenic metabolites. In addition, introduction of value added traits such as altered protein/oil composition today lies within the realms of biotechnology. Developing peanut plants with genes for abiotic stress or edible vaccines is not far away. The candidate genes which are currently available for transfer to peanut with possible implications in groundnut breeding programme is discussed. As developments in plant biotechnology unfolds, high frequency, disease resistant, drought tolerant and good tasting peanut, which are safe to eat, will continue to be the goals of peanut biotechnologists.KeywordsSomatic EmbryoSomatic EmbryogenesisTomato Spotted Wilt VirusShoot OrganogenesisArachis HypogaeaThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.