Advances in Crop Improvement and Delivery Research for Nutritional Quality and Health Benefits of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is an important global food and oil crop that underpins agriculture-dependent livelihood strategies meeting food, nutrition, and income security. Aflatoxins, pose a major challenge to increased competitiveness of groundnut limiting access to lucrative markets and affecting populations that consume it. Other drivers of low competitiveness include allergens and limited shelf life occasioned by low oleic acid profile in the oil. Thus grain off-takers such as consumers, domestic, and export markets as well as processors need solutions to increase profitability of the grain. There are some technological solutions to these challenges and this review paper highlights advances in crop improvement to enhance groundnut grain quality and nutrient profile for food, nutrition, and economic benefits. Significant advances have been made in setting the stage for marker-assisted allele pyramiding for different aflatoxin resistance mechanisms—in vitro seed colonization, pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination, and aflatoxin production—which, together with pre- and post-harvest management practices, will go a long way in mitigating the aflatoxin menace. A breakthrough in aflatoxin control is in sight with overexpression of antifungal plant defensins, and through host-induced gene silencing in the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. Similarly, genomic and biochemical approaches to allergen control are in good progress, with the identification of homologs of the allergen encoding genes and development of monoclonal antibody based ELISA protocol to screen for and quantify major allergens. Double mutation of the allotetraploid homeologous genes, FAD2A and FAD2B, has shown potential for achieving >75% oleic acid as demonstrated among introgression lines. Significant advances have been made in seed systems research to bridge the gap between trait discovery, deployment, and delivery through innovative partnerships and action learning

Genomic Tools in Groundnut Breeding Program: Status and Perspectives

Groundnut, a nutrient-rich food legume, is cultivated world over. It is valued for its good quality cooking oil, energy and protein rich food, and nutrient-rich fodder. Globally, groundnut improvement programs have developed varieties to meet the preferences of farmers, traders, processors, and consumers. Enhanced yield, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and quality parameters have been the target traits. Spurt in genetic information of groundnut was facilitated by development of molecular markers, genetic, and physical maps, generation of expressed sequence tags (EST), discovery of genes, and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for some important biotic and abiotic stresses and quality traits. The first groundnut variety developed using marker assisted breeding (MAB) was registered in 2003. Since then, USA, China, Japan, and India have begun to use genomic tools in routine groundnut improvement programs. Introgression lines that combine foliar fungal disease resistance and early maturity were developed using MAB. Establishment of marker-trait associations (MTA) paved way to integrate genomic tools in groundnut breeding for accelerated genetic gain. Genomic Selection (GS) tools are employed to improve drought tolerance and pod yield, governed by several minor effect QTLs. Draft genome sequence and low cost genotyping tools such as genotyping by sequencing (GBS) are expected to accelerate use of genomic tools to enhance genetic gains for target traits in groundnut

G × E interactions in QTL introgression lines of Spanish-type groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Multi-environment testing at five locations for rust and late leaf spot (LLS) resistance with 41 introgressed lines (ILs) bred using marker-assisted backcross breeding in the genetic background Spanish- type groundnut varieties identified significant genotype, and genotype 9 environment interactions (GEI) for LLS disease resistance and yield parameters. Significant GEI effects suggest the need to identify location specific breeding lines to achieve gains in pod yield and LLS resistance. The observed variable LLS disease reaction among the ILs in part suggests influence of background genotype on the level of resistance. A breeding scheme with early generation selection using molecular markers followed by phenotyping for LLS, and multi-location testing of fixed breeding lines was optimized to enhance selection intensity and accuracy in groundnut breeding. The ILs, ICGVs 14431, 14436 and 14438 with pooled LLS score at 90 DAS of 3.5–3.7 were superior to respective recurrent parent for pod yield, with early maturing similar to recurrent parents. The pod yield advantage in ILs is attributed by more number of pods, besides resistance to LLS that contributes to better filling

Genotyping-by-sequencing based genetic mapping reveals large number of epistatic interactions for stem rot resistance in groundnut

Key message Genetic mapping identified large number of epistatic interactions indicating the complex genetic architecture for stem rot disease resistance. Abstract Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important global crop commodity and serves as a major source of cooking oil, diverse confectionery preparations and livestock feed. Stem rot disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is the most devastating disease of groundnut and can cause up to 100% yield loss. Genomic-assisted breeding (GAB) has potential for accelerated development of stem rot resistance varieties in short period with more precision. In this context, linkage analysis and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for resistance to stem rot disease was performed in a bi-parental recombinant inbred line population developed from TG37A (susceptible) × NRCG-CS85 (resistant) comprising of 270 individuals. Genotyping-by-sequencing approach was deployed to generate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping data leading to development of a genetic map with 585 SNP loci spanning map distance of 2430 cM. QTL analysis using multi-season phenotyping and genotyping data could not detect any major main-effect QTL but identified 44 major epistatic QTLs with phenotypic variation explained ranging from 14.32 to 67.95%. Large number interactions indicate the complexity of genetic architecture of resistance to stem rot disease. A QTL of physical map length 5.2 Mb identified on B04 comprising 170 different genes especially leucine reach repeats, zinc finger motifs and ethyleneresponsive factors, etc., was identified. The identified genomic regions and candidate genes will further validate and facilitate marker development to deploy GAB for developing stem rot disease resistance groundnut varieties

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Not AvailableSeveral virus diseases of groundnut have been reported in India based on symptoms, host range, and biological properties. Among those, peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV), tobacco streak virus (TSV), peanut mottle virus (PeMoV), and Indian peanut clump virus (IPCV) are the economically important viruses of groundnut in India. Peanut bud necrosis virus belongs to the genus Tospovirus, transmitted effectively by Thrips palmi. PBND alone may cause 30–90 % yield losses. Necrosis of the terminal buds occurs which is a characteristic symptom of PBNV. Extensive field screening of the several genotypes, released varieties, and wild species at the hot spots has revealed the field tolerance of some of those genotypes. Peanut stem necrosis disease (PSND) is caused by the TSV of the genus Ilarvirus of the family Bromoviridae. Necrotic lesions on terminal leaflets, complete stem necrosis, and often total necrosis of entire plant are the characteristic symptoms of this disease. The PSND spreads mainly through the weed of crop species. A desired level of resistance of TSV has not yet been found in cultivated varieties of groundnut. The peanut clump disease of groundnut in India is caused by the IPCV of the genus Pecluvirus, family Virgaviridae. Symptoms are severe stunting of the plant appeared first on newly emerged leaves of two- to three-week-old seedlings. The host range of IPCV includes many monocot and dicot crop plants and weed species tested. IPCV was reported to be transmitted by the obligate fungal parasite (Polymyxa graminis) which is soilborne. Germplasm accessions, viz., NCAc 17099, NCAc 17133 (RF), and NCAc 17536, have been reported resistant to IPCV. Peanut mottle virus disease has been reported to occur on rabi/summer groundnut mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Newly formed leaves show mild mottling and vein clearing, whereas older leaves show upward curling and interveinal depression with dark green islands. The peanut mottle virus (PeMoV) occurs in nature on several important legume crops. Aphids are efficient vectors of PeMoV. Several lines of Arachis species like A. glabrata are reported to be resistant to this disease. Peanut stripe virus (PStV) is of quarantine significance to India and is almost eradicated from India. Since in most of the viral diseases sources with desired levels of genetic resistance could not be identified so far, transgenic approaches to engineer resistance to viruses by expressing the glycoproteins of tospoviruses in transgenic plants to block virus acquisition by thrips, by expressing truncated or modified forms of movement protein(s) of heterologous viruses, or by expressing virus-specific antibody genes may be adopted to tackle the viral diseases in groundnut.Not Availabl

Role of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in disease prevention and treatment

Seeds of flax or linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) are important nutraceutical foods with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, laxative, and antibacterial properties. Flaxseed oil and seeds are the richest vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids. Consumption of flaxseeds helps in prevention and control of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, obesity, diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovary syndrome, gout, liver and kidney dysfunction, oxidative stress-related diseases, post-menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, dry eye disease, cystic fibrosis, diarrhea, and cancer, particularly of the mammary and prostate gland cancer. Of late, flaxseed is gaining more importance not only because of its industrial values but also due to its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. The literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from 1995 onwards. Data was also obtained from websites/books/book chapters

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Not AvailableOil content and fatty acid composition of 41 wild species representing four sections of the genus Arachis were estimated. The major fatty acids observed in different wild Arachis species were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Oil content varied between 49% (A. stenosperma) to 58% (A. batizocoi). Oleic acid content was higher than linoleic acid. Oleic acid content ranged from 29.2% (A.appressipila) to 56.5% (A. stenophylla). Linoleic acid was in the range of 22.9% (A. stenophylla) to 46.7% (A.monticola). Ratio of oleic to linoleic acid ranged from 0.66 to 2.48. No significant relationship between oil content and fatty acid composition could be found.Not Availabl

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