Registration of ‘VENUS’ Peanut

Abstract

VENUS (Reg. No. CV‐130, PI 675157) is a large‐seeded high‐oleic virginia‐type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) that has enhanced Sclerotinia blight and pod rot resistance when compared to the cultivar Jupiter. VENUS is the first high‐oleic virginia peanut developed for optimal performance in the southwestern United States, and it was released cooperatively by the USDA‐ARS and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) in 2015. VENUS (experimental designation ARSOK‐V30B) is the result of a cross between the cultivar Jupiter, a non‐high‐oleic virginia peanut released by the OAES in 2000, and ARSOK‐R2, a high‐oleic advanced runner breeding line with resistance to Sclerotinia blight. Tests conducted at three locations across Oklahoma in 2012 to 2014 showed no significant difference between the yields of VENUS and Jupiter. However, VENUS graded significantly higher than Jupiter in two out of three locations. VENUS also has better resistance to Sclerotinia blight and pod rot (61 and 70% less disease, respectively) than Jupiter. Production of VENUS peanut in areas with high Sclerotinia blight and/or pod rot disease pressures will reduce the need for fungicide applications and result in increased profits for producers.