A global team of 51 scientists from four countries have decoded the complete DNA sequencing of the ancestor of the groundnut, or peanut. This could help develop improved groundnut varieties, with better productivity and oil yield.

It would also help develop drought-tolerant groundnut varieties and varieties with better disease tolerance. The other spin-offs include development of aflatoxin-free, nutrition-rich and allergen-free varieties.

The important findings have been published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the US-based National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“This will provide an efficient road map for sustainable and resilient groundnut production for improved livelihoods of smallholder farmers particularly in the marginal environments of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,” David Bergvinson, Director-General, Icrisat said, commenting on the development here on Wednesday.

The team comprises scientists from nine institutes in China, India, US and Australia, including the Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat). It decoded DNA sequencing of the ancestor of the groundnut, the diploid A-genome ( Arachis duranensis ).

“This study provides us with an insight to geocarpy, a reproductive process where the flowers grown on the stem go inside the soil and pod formations occur,” Rajeev Varshney, Co-Coordinator of Genome Sequencing Project and Research Program Director, Genetic Gains program at Icrisat, said.

“Genome sequencing has also provided genes and millions of genetic markers to accelerate development of superior groundnut varieties with high pod and oil yield, greater resistance and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses,” Manish K Pandey, Scientist (Groundnut Genomics) and Lead author from Icrisat, said on the research paper, pointed out.

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