Registration of Arblick and Ecoturf Rhizoma Peanut Germplasms for Ornamental or Forage Use

Abstract

Arblick (Reg. No. GP‐128; PI 658528) and Ecoturf (Reg. No. GP‐129; PI 658529) are rhizoma peanut (RP) (Arachis glabrata Benth.) germplasms released by the Univ. of Florida in 2008. These plant introductions were identified as lower growing “ground cover” type plants. These lines are being released as germplasm to document the dual purpose ornamental and forage characteristics of the lines. Arblick was collected near the town of Bela Vista, Brazil, located on the border of Brazil and Paraguay. It has green group leaves (RHS 137B), with an orange group standard petal (RHS 24A and a yellow orange group wing petal (RHS 14B). Arblick generally is somewhat slower to establish than other forage type cultivars, has limited forage potential, and has not been widely planted. Ecoturf was collected along the Brazil–Paraguay border on the same collection expedition as Arblick, not far from where Arblick was collected. Flower color of Ecoturf is similar to Arblick, but it has yellow green group leaves (RHS 144A). Arblick and Ecoturf are lower growing types that flower profusely during the growing season. Ecoturf has gained acceptance by the commercial landscape industry for use as an ornamental ground cover. These germplasms will benefit specialty users of “ornamental” types of RP but also because of their dual‐use potential will diversify the RP plantings to avoid the near monoculture of ‘Florigraze’