Peanut Production Research Articles

Kaolinite reduced Cd accumulation in peanut and remediate soil contaminated with both microplastics and cadmium

Microplastics (MPs) increase the effective state of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and seriously threaten the yield and quality of peanuts (Arachis Hypogea L.). Kaolinite (KL) has the potential to ameliorate MP- and HM- contaminated soils, but the mechanism of action between them is not well understood. Therefore, 60-day experiments were conducted, where KL (1 %, 2 %) and MPs (0.1 %, 1 %) were individually or jointly mixed into soils with different cadmium (Cd) concentrations (0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 mg·kg−1) to cultivate peanuts in a greenhouse. Finally, soil-bioavailable Cd, peanut dry weight, peanut Cd concentrations, the pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were determined. It was shown that MPs negatively affected the peanut dry weight and increased the content of soil-bioavailable Cd and Cd concentration in peanut. In the MP- and Cd-contaminated soils, KL mitigated the negative influence of MPs by increasing the dry weight of peanuts by 8.40 %−40.59 %, decreasing the soil-bioavailable Cd by 23.70–35.74 %, and significantly decreasing peanut Cd concentrations by 9.65–30.86 %. The presence of MPs decreased soil pH (7.69–7.87) and the CEC (20.96–23.95 cmol·L−1) and increased the soil DOC (1.84–2.26 mg·kg−1). KL significantly increased soil pH (7.79–8.03) and the CEC (24.96–28.28 cmol·L−1) and mitigated the adverse influence of MPs on the pH and CEC of Cd-contaminated soils. A regression path analysis (RPA) evidenced that KL decreased Cd accumulation in plants by changing the properties of soil contaminated with MPs and Cd. The research results revealed the mechanism of KL on peanut growth and Cd absorption in MP- and Cd-contaminated soil. The results of this study provide a foundation to improve the quality of MP- and HM-contaminated soils and realize safe peanut production.

Effect of Drought and Pluvial Climates on the Production and Stability of Different Types of Peanut Cultivars in Guangdong, China

The production and breeding of peanuts was restricted by the frequently extreme climatic conditions in Guangdong province, China. To understand the influence of drought and pluvial climates on peanut traits and yield, a phenotypic investigation of seventy peanut cultivars was conducted from 2018 to 2022; comprehensive field meteorological data collection, and typical drought (2021) and pluvial (2022) climates were recorded. The results revealed that the cultivars achieved the highest single plant pod weight (SPPW) and single plant seed weight (SPSW) of 61.03 g and 45.84 g, respectively, in drought conditions, followed by the control, and finally the pluvial. The SPPW, SPSW and eight agronomy traits exhibited significant differences across the different climatic conditions. Correlation analysis revealed the yield traits and key yield-related traits were positively or negatively correlated with soil water content (SWC), total global radiation (TGR), total precipitation (TP) and total net radiation (TNR). The intermediate and Spanish type cultivars were more stable and productive than the other botanical types of cultivars, commercial varieties exhibited better performance than landraces, and seven cultivars were identified with good production potential, under drought and pluvial conditions. Our study showed that pluvial climate was detrimental to peanut yield, and the SPPW and SPSW were significantly influenced by climates with genotype differences.

The combined effect of biochar and organic fertilizer (goat manure) on the growth and yield of peanut crop (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Sandy soils suffer from many problems with physical and chemical properties as well as low productivity of cultivated crops. Biochar and organic fertilizer have been used in agriculture to improve soil fertility, enhance crop productivity, and sequester carbon in the soil. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of biochar (B) from woody materials and gout manure (GM) on the growth and yield of peanut crops (Arachis hypogaea L.) in sandy soil. The experiment was in a randomized complete block design RCBD with three replicates. The treatments were controlled, 10 t ha-1 GM, 2 % B + 10 t ha-1 GM, and 5 % B + 10 t ha-1 GM. The result showed that the addition of 2 % B + 10 t ha-1 GM increased peanut yield by 50 % while the addition of 5 % B + GM 10 t ha-1 increased peanut yield by 82 %. Without biochar, goat manure had yield increases by 25 % compared to a control. Overall, our findings demonstrate that biochar-goat manure combinations have a better performance than GM alone, in terms of yield and plant growth. For future research, we tend to determine the optimal combination of biochar and goat manure for peanut production.

PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI KACANG TANAH (Arachis hypogaea L.) PADA BERBAGAI DOSIS KALIUM ORGANIK

Potassium is a macro nutrient needed for plant growth, especially for the formation of pods and seeds. Organic potassium sources such as coconut fiber ash can be used as an alternative to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Cow urine contains nitrogen nutrients which can be used as a source of N nutrients to reduce the use of urea fertilizer. This research aims to determine the dose of organic potassium, the dose of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) from cow urine on the growth and production of peanuts. This research was structured using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 2 treatments, namely doses of organic potassium and cow urine liquid organic fertilizer (LOF). The parameters observed were plant height (cm), number of leaf stalks, seed weight per 1000 (gr), number of pods (seeds), fresh weight (gr), and dry weight (gr). The results of the study showed that treatment with doses of organic potassium and cow urine LOF had no significant effect on the growth and production of peanuts. The best dose of organic potassium is organic potassium equivalent to a dose of 75 kg KCl/ha. The best dose of cow urine LOF is 75 ml/l water (U2). The best combination of potassium dose equivalent to 75 Kg KCl/ha with a LOF dose of cow urine for growth and production of peanuts LOF cow urine 50 ml/l (A2U1).

Sosialisasi Pembuatan Yoghurt Kacang Tanah sebagai Pemberdayaan Masyarakat untuk Peningkatan Ekonomi Di Desa Landungsari Kecamatan Dau Kabupaten Malang

The increase in public awareness of health during the Covid 19 pandemic was accompanied by an increasing need for functional food including probiotic drinks. One of the efforts to diversify yogurt is by using peanuts as a substitute for cow's milk. The production of peanuts which is quite a lot in Malang allows it to be processed into Plant-based yogurt. As an effort to increase independence in the field of entrepreneurship in peanut-producing area in Desa Landungsari Kecamatan Dau Malang, it was necessary to provide socialization on making peanut yogurt and business development through the digital economy by the program team serving Qaryah Thayyibah UIN Maulana Maliki Ibrahim Malang.

Impact of Variety and At-Planting Insecticides on Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Management in Peanut

Tobacco thrips are one of the most prevalent early season insect pests in peanut production systems. Experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Stoneville Mississippi to evaluate integrated pest management approaches to mitigate negative effects of thrips. Experimental treatments included a normal and late planting date, varieties Georgia-06G and QR-14, and in-furrow insecticide treatments consisting of a non-treated control, phorate, and imidacloprid. Measurements included early and final plant stands, immature and adults thrips counts, and pod yield. In-furrow insecticide had a strong effect on number of thrips per plant with treatment thrips ranking of: phorate < imidacloprid < non-treated control. However, in-furrow insecticide had no interaction with variety or plating date. Although phorate provided greater thrips control than imidacloprid, pod yield for the two treatments was similar, and both in-furrow treatments had greater yield than the non-treated control. The variety QR-14 had greater pod yield than Georgia-06G when planted late. Overall, these results confirm that in-furrow insecticide applications of either imidacloprid or phorate are adequate in protecting against yield loss from thrips within a midsouthern peanut production environment.

Performance of Imidacloprid or Phorate Co-Applied In-Furrow with Superabsorbent Polymer and Evaluation of Aldicarb

Management decisions mitigating thrips injury and tomato spotted wilt infection are primarily limited to being enacted at the beginning of the growing season. Previous work explored corresponding potential management contribution of concurrent insecticide application with a superabsorbent polymer in-furrow but reported effects to be marginal or variable across experiments. To more thoroughly probe this potential, data from a collection of 40 experiments conducted from 2009 through 2022 was analyzed to examine the efficacy of insecticides (aldicarb, imidacloprid, imidacloprid plus fluopyram, and phorate, in addition to a nontreated check) applied in-furrow at planting for peanut production. In addition to treatments applied individually, experiments included imidacloprid (n = 11) or phorate (n = 18) applied in the presence of 2.2 kg/ha superabsorbent polymer. Results indicated that neither imidacloprid nor phorate alone significantly varied with regard to stand count (P > 0.35), thrips injury (P > 0.27), tomato spotted wilt incidence (P > 0.08), or yield (P > 0.37) when compared to their co-application with the polymer. These results were consistent across variety susceptibility levels to tomato spotted wilt. The fitted models were determined to be robust to the treatment composition of screened studies (P > 0.089). Where there were differences in projected returns above the nontreated check, phorate or aldicarb were the most consistently profitable treatments.

Managing Risk: a Decision Tool to Enhance Yield and Quality of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in Ghana

Peanut cultivation in Ghana is influenced by abiotic (e.g., drought, fertilization, etc.) and biotic (e.g., pests, diseases, etc.) factors that must be managed effectively to maximize yields. These factors differ across agro-ecologies and pose significant risks to yields and aflatoxin contamination and can limit financial returns to farmers. Knowledge of interactions among key production practices such as pest management, crop rotation sequence, varietal selection, tillage systems, and chemical inputs is required to mitigate these risks and to provide quality advice to peanut farmers by Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and/or similar advisory groups. This paper describes the development of a comprehensive, Microsoft (MS) Excel based risk management tool to help farmers and their advisors implement practices that minimize the risk of yield loss and aflatoxin contamination while providing production cost estimates. This tool is based on a similar one developed for peanut production in North Carolina (USA). Three risk tools were developed; one for the interior savannah zone of northern Ghana which has a unimodal rainfall pattern, and two for the forest and transition zones of southern Ghana which are characterized by a bimodal rainfall pattern. These tools will aid AEAs and farmers to make informed decisions on the best combinations of production practices that will minimize risk and increase yields in Ghana. The development process considered the differences in selection of varieties, plant density, fertilization, and pest management between savannah and the forest-transition regions as well as the impact of their interactions on peanut yield and aflatoxin contamination. Overall, this risk management tool benefits extension service providers (government and private), breeding, agronomy, and plant protection programs as well as teaching in higher education institutions.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Restored the Saline-Alkali Soil and Promoted the Growth of Peanut Roots.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil and cash crop. An efficient utilization of saline-alkali soil resources, the development of peanut planting in saline-alkali soil, and obtaining high and stable yield have become urgent needs to ensure peanut production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been reported to develop the potential productivity of host plants and improve their salt resistance and tolerance. However, there is still limited research on promoting the growth and morphology of peanut roots. Therefore, in this study, seeds of salt-tolerant peanut variety "HY 25" were coated with commercial AMF inoculant before being planted in saline-alkali and normal soils to investigate the effects of AMF on peanut root growth and rhizosphere soil. The results showed that root morphological characteristics were significantly increased by the use of AMF at the podding stage in saline-alkali soil and from the flowering and pegging stage to the maturity stage in normal soil. Of note, the total root volume of peanut inoculated with AMF significantly increased by 31.57% during the podding stage in saline-alkali soil. Meanwhile, AMF significantly increased the phosphatase and invertase activities in the peanut rhizosphere of saline-alkali soil from the flowering stage to maturity stage and soil CAT activity at the maturity stage (41.16~48.82%). In normal soil, soil phosphatase and urease activities were enhanced by AMF at the flowering stage and the podding stage, respectively. AMF also increased the contents of soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and hydrolysable nitrogen, but decreased soil EC in saline-alkali soil. In addition to the significant increase in soil available phosphorus content, AMF had no significant effect on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and other soil nutrients in normal soil. AMF significantly increased pod biomass and yield in saline-alkali soil and normal soil, and improved their agronomic characteristics. In conclusion, peanut seeds coated with AMF improved the root morphological characteristics of peanuts and improved the physical and chemical properties in peanut rhizosphere, especially in saline-alkali soil. The process of rhizosphere soil nutrient transformation was also enhanced. Finally, AMF improved plant agronomic traits to increase the pod yield (16.5~21.9%). This study provides the theoretical basis and technical support for the application of AMF in peanut production in saline-alkali soil.

Seasonal differences in yield and fertilizer use efficiency of different low-calcium-tolerant peanut varieties in response to the timing and splitting of calcium application in southern China

Soil Ca deficiency hinders the development of the peanut industry, and inappropriate Ca fertilizer application increases the risk of soil environmental degradation and reduces the fertilizer utilization rate and yield in peanuts. N fertilizer doses are frequently split and applied over different time periods. However, whether this widespread method is applicable to Ca fertilizer and improves peanut growth and yield in southern China requires further investigation. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of timing and splitting Ca applications on the dry matter accumulation and partition, fertilizer use efficiency, and yield of different low-Ca-tolerant peanut varieties (low-Ca-sensitive Jihua 16 and low-Ca-tolerant Yueyou 45) in the early and late seasons. The results showed that the early timing and splitting of Ca application significantly increased the pod yield of Jihua 16 by increasing nitrogen and calcium use efficiencies, dry matter accumulation, and assimilate transfer from vegetative parts to the pods in both years. The highest pod yield of Jihua 16 was obtained with 300 kg CaO ha−1 basal application before sowing and 300 kg CaO ha−1 top-dressing application at the flowering stage (B300:T300) in the early season and 600 kg CaO ha−1 basal application before sowing and 600 kg CaO ha−1 top-dressing application at the flowering stage (B600:T600) in the late season; the yields were significantly increased by 91.87 % in 2020, 92.15 % in 2021, and by 255.36 % in 2020, 248.22 % in 2021, respectively, compared with those obtained with no Ca fertilizer use. However, the Ca treatments did not significantly affect pod yield or the related parameters of Yueyou 45 in either season. The pod yield of both cultivars was higher in the early season than that in the late season because of the higher effective accumulated temperature and precipitation during the reproductive stage in the early season of both years. The results of this study indicate that the early season is most suitable for peanut production, and the B300:T300 and no Ca application strategies are appropriate for the Ca-sensitive and -tolerant cultivars, respectively, in the early season in southern China. Notably, additional Ca-tolerant cultivars should be selected for cultivation in southern China to reduce future fertilizer application. These results provide useful information for improving double-cropping systems, Ca fertilization strategies, and peanut cultivar breeding in southern China.

A study on creating highly yielded and drought-tolerant QTL gene-possessed lines of peanut

In the trend of global climate changes and heavily occurring drought, particularly resulting in decreased productivity and cultivated areas of peanut production, the breeding and screening of highly yielded and drought-tolerant QTL gene-possessed peanut lines is considered a strategic and effective solution. In this study, the on-field assessment in combination with drought-tolerant gene screening was implemented and 6 peanut cultivars named TK10, Chum Nghe An, Sen Nghe An, L20, L23, and L14 were regarded as hybrid parents for the crossing-breeding program. Of 5 cross-breeding combinations (Chum Nghe An played the role of mother; 5 others were the fathers) 15 elite peanut lines of the F3 generation with high yield (over 29 quintals/ha) and 5 of them coded F3-6, F3-12 (Chum Nghe An × L23), F3-9, F3-10 (Chum Nghe An × Sen Nghe An), and F3-13 (Chum Nghe An × L14) possessed the locus for drought tolerance determined by electrophoresis technology. It is also particularly mentioned that all these lines had a good recovery (92.8-94.6, 84.4-88.4, and 80.0-83.4%, respectively), average productivity loss (30.56-34.10%), and good drought tolerance (point 3: G=21-40%).

Paper-based microfluidic device for selective detection of peanut allergen Ara h1 applying black phosphorus-Au nanocomposites for signal amplification

This paper developed a portable microfluidic paper-based analysis device (μ-PAD) combined with the electrochemical technique for efficient and sensitive detection of peanut allergen Ara h1. The proposed μ-PAD works based on the variation of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) response current induced by peanut allergen Ara h1. Black phosphorus (BP)–Au nanocomposites were introduced both to improve the electron transfer rate at the electrode interface for signal amplification, and to immobilize the specific Ara h1 aptamers through Au–S bonding to recognize the target in food matrices. This μ-PAD had good specificity and detection stability for Ara h1 allergen and could complete the entire analysis process within 20 min, achieving a wide linear response range (25–800 ng mL−1) and a low detection limit (LOD, 11.8 ng mL−1). In the Ara h1 allergen detection applied to real peanut products (cookies, milk, and bread), the constructed μ-PAD obtained acceptable recoveries (93.50%–101.86%) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.36–2.97% (n = 3), with a good correlation with the ELISA results (R2 = 0.9956). Therefore, the portable μ-PAD based on BP-Au nanocomposites was demonstrated to provide an effective strategy for rapid analysis and screening of Ara h1 allergen in food, which has broad application prospects.

Development of a Greenhouse Method to Evaluate the Peanut Resistance to Athelia rolfsii

Peanut stem rot (also known as white mold), caused by the fungus Athelia rolfsii, is one of the most damaging soilborne pathogens for U.S. peanut production. The disease is mainly controlled by fungicides and by adopting cultivars with moderate resistance. Field evaluation is the main approach for evaluating plant resistance, but it is costly and labor-intensive. Reliable methods for in vitro or greenhouse evaluations are desirable. Greenhouse, growth chamber, and in vitro methods have been tried to assess resistance, but they generally do not correlate well with field results. In this study, we developed a reliable method to assess resistance to stem rot on peanut under greenhouse conditions. Stem cuttings were taken from 60-day-old plants and placed into a cup filled with potting mix. Cuttings were inoculated with active A. rolfsii mycelial plugs above the soil line, with mycelium directly contacting the stem. Inoculated cuttings were put in a mist chamber to keep humidity high. Highly significant differences in disease resistance among genotypes were found at 7 days after inoculation ( P < 0.05). Moreover, evaluations done at 3, 5, 7, and 9 days after inoculation and the area under the disease progress curve were significantly correlated with field evaluations of the same genotypes. This greenhouse assay is a step forward to screen peanut germplasm more efficiently for stem rot resistance. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .

Whole genome analysis of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TA-1, a promising biocontrol agent against Cercospora arachidicola pathogen of early leaf spot in Arachis hypogaea L

BackgroundEarly leaf spot disease, caused by Cercospora arachidicola, is a devastating peanut disease that has severely impacted peanut production and quality. Chemical fungicides pollute the environment; however, Bacillus bacteria can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. To understand the novel bacterial strain and unravel its molecular mechanism, De novo whole-genome sequencing emerges as a rapid and efficient omics approach.ResultsIn the current study, we identified an antagonistic strain, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TA-1. In-vitro assay showed that the TA-1 strain was a strong antagonist against C. arachidicola, with an inhibition zone of 88.9 mm. In a greenhouse assay, results showed that the TA-1 strain had a significant biocontrol effect of 95% on peanut early leaf spot disease. De novo whole-genome sequencing analysis, shows that strain TA-1 has a single circular chromosome with 4172 protein-coding genes and a 45.91% guanine and cytosine (GC) content. Gene function was annotated using non-redundant proteins from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Swiss-Prot, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), clusters of orthologous groups of proteins, gene ontology, pathogen-host interactions, and carbohydrate-active enZYmes. antiSMASH analysis predicted that strain TA-1 can produce the secondary metabolites siderophore, tailcyclized peptide, myxochelin, bacillibactin, paenibactin, myxochelin, griseobactin, benarthin, tailcyclized, and samylocyclicin.ConclusionThe strain TA-1 had a significant biological control effect against peanut early leaf spot disease in-vitro and in greenhouse assays. Whole genome analysis revealed that, TA-1 strain belongs to B. amyloliquefaciens and could produce the antifungal secondary metabolites.

PERAN PENYULUH PERTANIAN DALAM UPAYA PENINGKATAN PRODUKSI KACANG TANAH STUDI KASUS DI DESA GUNUNG SARI KECAMATAN GUNUNG SARI KABUPATEN LOMBOK BARAT

Peanut production in Gunung Sari Village is still low when compared to production in West Lombok Regency. The existence of a touch of technology in the adoption of peanut farming technology does not necessarily increase production. For this reason, it is necessary to increase farmer resources through the role of extension workers in the development of peanut farming. The research conducted in Gunung Sari Village from February to April 2023, aims to determine the role of agricultural extension workers in efforts to increase peanut production in Gunung Sari Village, Gunung Sari District, West Lombok Regency. The number of respondents used was 24 people, which was carried out by census, where the entire population was taken as a sample. Data analysis used a Likert scale and then analyzed the role of extension workers based on 9 categories, namely: motivator, educator, catalyst, organizer, communicator, counselor, adviser, facilitator and evaluator. Based on descriptive analysis, with role analysis, it can be said that extension workers have played a role in increasing peanut production in Gunungsari Village, Gunungsari District, West Lombok Regency, with an average score of 65.89. Thus the extension worker plays a role as a motivator, educator, catalyst, communicator, counselor, facilitator, organizer, adviser and evaluator.

Approach for quick exploration of highly effective broad-spectrum biocontrol strains based on PO8 protein inhibition

Aflatoxin is a group of strongly toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus and other Aspergillus species, which caused food contamination and food loss problems widely across the world especially in developing countries, thus threatening human health and sustainable development. So, it is important to develop new, green, and broad-spectrum biocontrol technology for the prevention of aflatoxin contamination sources. Previously, we found that the PO8 protein from aflatoxigenic A. flavus could be used as a biomarker to predict aflatoxin production in peanuts (so the PO8 is named as an early warning molecule), which infers that the PO8 is relative to aflatoxin production. Therefore, in the study, based on inhibiting the PO8, a new and quick strategy for screening aflatoxin biocontrol strains for developing control agents was presented. With the PO8 inhibition method, four biocontrol strains (2 strains were isolated from peanut kernels with sterilized surface and another 2 strains from peanut rhizosphere soil) were selected and combined to increase prevention wide-spectrum. As a result, the combination showed over 90% inhibition to all tested aflatoxigenic A. flavus isolated from three different peanut production areas (north, middle, and south areas of China), and better than any single strain. The field experiments located in five provinces of China showed that the practice prevention effects (inhibition of aflatoxigenic fungi on the surface of the peanuts) were from 50% to over 80%. The results indicated that the strategy of inhibiting the early warning molecule PO8 can be used to develop aflatoxin control agents well.

Identification of QTL for kernel weight and size and analysis of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) gene family in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed crop worldwide. Improving its yield is crucial for sustainable peanut production to meet increasing food and industrial requirements. Deciphering the genetic control underlying peanut kernel weight and size, which are essential components of peanut yield, would facilitate high-yield breeding. A high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based linkage map was constructed using a recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population derived from a cross between the variety Yuanza9102 and a germplasm accession wt09-0023. Kernel weight and size quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were co-localized to a 0.16 Mb interval on Arahy07 using inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM). Analysis of SNP, and Insertion or Deletion (INDEL) markers in the QTL interval revealed a gene encoding a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) superfamily protein as a candidate closely linked with kernel weight and size in cultivated peanut. Examination of the PPR gene family indicated a high degree of collinearity of PPR genes between A. hypogaea and its diploid progenitors, Arachis duranensis and Arachis ipaensis. The candidate PPR gene, Arahy.JX1V6X, displayed a constitutive expression pattern in developing seeds. These findings lay a foundation for further fine mapping of QTLs related to kernel weight and size, as well as validation of candidate genes in cultivated peanut.

Consumption of peanut products enhances the production of microbial phenolic metabolites related with memory and stress response: Results from the ARISTOTLE trial

Based on evidence demonstrating that gut microbiota can metabolize dietary polyphenols to more readily absorbable phenolic acids, this study aimed to evaluate the association of urinary microbial phenolic metabolites (MPMs) related to peanut intake with memory function and stress response. A total of 63 healthy young adults from a randomized controlled trial completed the intervention, consuming 25 g of skin roasted peanuts, 32 g of peanut butter, or 32 g of a control butter daily for six months. Cognition and mood were assessed using validated tests. Urinary cortisol was quantified by an enzymatic method and MPMs were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Lignans and hydroxybenzoic acids with significantly higher post-intervention levels were correlated with improved cognition and mood in peanut product consumers. These findings suggest that peanut and peanut butter consumption may contribute to the production of MPMs involved in the improvement of memory.

User-Centered Design and Evaluation of Clinical Decision Support to Improve Early Peanut Introduction: Formative Study.

Peanut allergy has recently become more prevalent. Peanut introduction recommendations have evolved from suggesting peanut avoidance until the age of 3 years to more recent guidelines encouraging early peanut introduction after the Learning Early about Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study in 2015. Guideline adherence is poor, leading to missed care opportunities. In this study, we aimed to develop a user-centered clinical decision support (CDS) tool to improve implementation of the most recent early peanut introduction guidelines in the primary care clinic setting. We edited the note template of the well-child check (WCC) visits at ages 4 and 6 months with CDS prompts and point-of-care education. Formative and summative usability testing were completed with pediatric residents in a simulated electronic health record (EHR). We estimated task completion rates and perceived usefulness of the CDS in summative testing, comparing a test EHR with and without the CDS. Formative usability testing with the residents provided qualitative data that led to improvements in the build for both the 4-month and 6-month WCC note templates. During summative usability testing, the CDS tool significantly improved discussion of early peanut introduction at the 4-month WCC visit compared to scenarios without the CDS tool (9/15, 60% with CDS and 0/15, 0% without CDS). All providers except one at the 4-month WCC scenario gave at least an adequate score for the ease of use of the CDS tool for the history of present illness and assessment and plan sections. During the summative usability testing with the 6-month WCC new build note template, providers more commonly provided comprehensive care once obtaining a patient history concerning for an immunoglobulin E-mediated peanut reaction by placing a referral to allergy/immunology (P=.48), prescribing an epinephrine auto-injector (P=.07), instructing on how to avoid peanut products (P<.001), and providing an emergency treatment plan (P=.003) with CDS guidance. All providers gave at least an adequate score for ease of use of the CDS tool in the after-visit summary. User-centered CDS improved application of early peanut introduction recommendations and comprehensive care for patients who have symptoms concerning for peanut allergy in a simulation.

Resilient and sustainable production of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in phosphorus-limited environment by using exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid to sustain photosynthesis

Globally, many low to medium yielding peanut fields have the potential for further yield improvement. Low phosphorus (P) limitation is one of the significant factors curtailing Arachis hypogaea productivity in many regions. In order to demonstrate the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on peanuts growing under P deficiency, we used a pot-based experiment to examine the effects of exogenous GABA on alleviating P deficiency-induced physiological changes and growth inhibition in peanuts. The key physiological parameters examined were foliar gas exchange, photochemical efficiency, proton motive force, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase activity of peanuts under cultivation with low P (LP, 0.5 mM P) and control conditions. During low P, the cyclic electron flow (CEF) maintained the high proton gradient (∆pH) induced by low ATP synthetic activity. Applying GABA during low P conditions stimulated CEF and reduced the concomitant ROS generation and thereby protecting the foliar photosystem II (PSII) from photoinhibition. Specifically, GABA enhanced the rate of electronic transmission of PSII (ETRII) by pausing the photoprotection mechanisms including non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and ∆pH regulation. Thus, GABA was shown to be effective in restoring peanut growth when encountering P deficiency. Exogenous GABA alleviated two symptoms (increased root-shoot ratio and photoinhibition) of P-deficient peanuts. This is possibly the first report of using exogenous GABA to restore photosynthesis and growth under low P availability. Therefore, foliar applications of GABA could be a simple, safe and effective approach to overcome low yield imposed by limited P resources (low P in soils or P-fertilizers are unavailable) for sustainable peanut cultivation and especially in low to medium yielding fields.