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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #234934
Title: Association of root, specific leaf area and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading to water use efficiency of peanut under different available soil water

Author
item SONGSRI, P - KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY
item JOGLOY, S - KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY
item Holbrook, Carl - Corley
item KESMALA, T - KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY
item VORASOOT, N - KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY
item AKKASAENG, C - KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY
item PATANOTHAI, A - KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Agricultural Water Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2009
Publication Date: 2/1/2009
Citation: Songsri, P., Jogloy, S., Holbrook Jr, C.C., Kesmala, T., Vorasoot, N., Akkasaeng, C., Patanothai, A. 2009. Association of root, specific leaf area and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading to water use efficiency of peanut under different available soil water. Agricultural Water Management 96:790-798.

Interpretive Summary: Unpredictable rainfall creates conditions of drought stress which reduced the yield of peanut in areas throughout the World. Breeding peanut varieties with improved water use efficiency would help in alleviating this problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate a select group of peanut genotypes to identify those with improved water use efficiency. Eleven peanut genotypes were evaluated in studies using variable soil moisture levels. Genotypes with improved water use efficiency were identified. These genotypes should be valuable parents to use in peanut breeding programs. Different mechanisms for improved water use efficiency were also evident. Some genotype had larger root systems for extracting more of the available soil moisture. Other genotypes appear to be able to maintain a higher level of photosynthesis under drought stressed conditions. It may be possible to combine these mechanisms together to develop new peanut varieties with improved water use efficiency.

Technical Abstract: Drought is the major abiotic constraint affecting peanut productivity and quality worldwide. There is a pressing need to improve the water use efficiency (WUE) of rain-fed peanut production. Breeding varieties with high water use efficiency is seen as providing part of the solution. The objectives of this work were to (1) evaluate genetic variation in WUE, harvest index, root dry weight, specific leaf area (SLA) and SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) among peanut genotypes in response to different available soil water levels and (2) assess the relevance of root dry weight, SLA, and SCMR to WUE in peanut under receding soil moisture levels. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted in the dry and rainy seasons in 2002/2003. The 11 peanut genotypes (ICGV 98300, ICGV 98303, ICGV 98305, ICGV 98308, ICGV 98324, ICGV 98330, ICGV 98348, ICGV 98353, Tainan 9, KK 60-3 and Tifton 8) and three soil moistue levels [field capacity (FC), 2/3 available soil water (AW) and 1/3 AW] were laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications. At 37, 67, and 97 days after sowing (DAS), data were recorded for SLA and SCMR. Root dry weight, harvest index (HI) and WUE were recorded at harvest. Drought reduced WUE, root dry weight and HI. Across both seasons, Tifton-8 and ICGV 98300 had high WUE and also had large root systems under drought conditions. ICGV 98324 and Tifton-8 had low SLA and high SCMR under stressed and non-stressed conditions. Under drought conditions, ICGV 98324 had high HI and Tifton-8 had low HI. Root dry weight had a greater contribution to WUE under well watered and mild drought (2/3 AW). Under severe drought (1/3 AW), SLA showed a more important contribution to WUE than the other traits. Traits that were associated to high WUE under drought conditions were different among different peanut genotypes. ICGV 98300 maintained high root dry weight under 2/3 AW and ICGV 98324 maintained low SLA and high SCMR under 1/3 AW. Tifton-8 had both large root systems and low SLA associated with high WUE.