Toward sustainable peanut production: progress in breeding for resistance to foliar and soilborne pathogens of peanut

Peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., is a legume grown in warm climates throughout the world. In many developing countries, peanut is an important source of calories, protein, and oil. In the United States, this high-value crop is used primarily in peanut butter and snacks. North Carolina and Virginia produce virginia-type peanut, which is large-seeded and used for roasted shelled or in-the-shell products. Yields average 2,800 to 3,400 kg/ha, but yields of 4,500 kg/ha or more are common for top producers. Gross returns of at least $2,.500/ha are typical. These large yields and high returns are a product of intensive management, which includes extensive land preparation, frequent application of pesticides, and use of high quality cultivars. Without these inputs, yields usually range from 800 to 1,700 kg/ha. Thus, there is a great need in developing countries to increase yield and quality in low-input production systems. In the future, increasing economic and environmental pressures in the United States also will require that high yields be produced with fewer inputs.