Disease and Insect Assessment of Candidate Cultivars for Potential Use in Organic Peanut Production

Abstract

Abstract Interest in organic peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production is increasing in the United States. Disease and insect resistant cultivars will be needed to meet the challenge of producing peanuts without conventional pesticides. No-fungicide and no-insecticide field trials were conducted under irrigation four consecutive years (2003–06) at the University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station to evaluate peanut genotypes for pest resistance. The most important foliar peanut diseases in the southeast are tomato spotted wilt (TSW) caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus and both early and late leafspots caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori and Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & Curt.) Deighton, respectively. Two of the most important insect pests on peanut are tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) and potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae Harris). Results from these no-fungicide and no-insecticide field trials showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in pest resistance among advanced Georgia breeding lines and cultivars. Two Georgia cultivars ‘Georgia-01R’ and ‘Georgia-05E’ consistently produced the highest yields and had high levels of resistance to TSW, leafhoppers, and leafspots each year. Georgia-01R is a multiple-pest-resistant, mid-oleic, runner-type cultivar; whereas, Georgia-05E is a multiple-pest-resistant, high-oleic, virginia-type cultivar. Both cultivars should be considered as good candidates for potential use in organic peanut production.