In vitro culture of peanut {Arachis sp.) pegs

Abstract

In vitro cultured peg tips of 3 selfed Arachis hypogaea (L.) cultivars, 2 wild peanut species A. stenosperma and A. duranensis and of cultivar Silihong pollinated with A. glabrata swelled and finally resulted in pods with viable seeds or precociously germinated, producing plantlets within 120-140 days after culture initiation. A success rate of 12.5-60% for selfed peanut and 0.4-5.2% for hybrid pegs was recorded. Totally 18 hybrid seeds and 6 precociously germinated hybrid plantlets were obtained. While most of the F, hybrids encountered various barriers leading to premature death, one F, plant grew to maturity and set seeds. The peg culture technique was also used to produce peanut mutants. Peg tips of selfed plants were irradiated with 0,5,10,15,20 Gy gamma rays prior to in vitro culture. All the M, plants which survived 5 Gy and 10 Gy treatments were identified as mutants. Peg culture technique may be useful in germplasm conservation and exchange, haploid production, mutation induction, genetic transformation and in studies on the development of peg.