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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #320908
Title: Chemical interruption of late season flowering to improve harvested peanut maturity

Author
item Lamb, Marshall
item Sorensen, Ronald - Ron
item Butts, Christopher - Chris
item NUTI, RUSSELL - Dow Chemical Company
item DAVIS, J - Jla Global
item Dang, Phat
item Arias De Ares, Renee
item Sobolev, Victor

Submitted to: Peanut Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2017
Publication Date: 6/23/2017
Citation: Lamb, M.C., Sorensen, R.B., Butts, C.L., Nuti, R., Davis, J.P., Dang, P.M., Arias De Ares, R.S., Sobolev, V. 2017. Chemical interruption of flowering to improve harvested peanut maturity. Peanut Science. 44(1):60-65.

Interpretive Summary: As a botanically indeterminate plant, flowering and fruit initiation occurs in peanut over a long extended time period during the growing season. Thus a wide range of maturity and size in peanut fruit exists at harvest. Immature kernels that meet commercial edible size specifications negatively affect quality during processing. As peanuts progress toward maturation, late season flowering and subsequent pod development result in immature pods that will not have sufficient time to mature prior to harvest. Research was conducted from 2012 to 2014 at the USDA/ARS NPRL Bolton Irrigation Research Farm to determine the effect of late season flower termination on peanut yield, grade, germination, and post-harvesting processing characteristics. Two chemical methods at three differing rates and timings were evaluated along with a Hand Removal control and a non-treated control. When pooled across rates and timings, yield in the chemical treatments were higher than the untreated control, respectively. Specific rates and timings within the chemical treatments showed the highest and most consistent improvements in peanut yield, grade, and post-harvest quality factors.

Technical Abstract: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a botanically indeterminate plant where flowering, fruit initiation, and pod maturity occurs over an extended time period during the growing season. As a result, the maturity and size of individual peanut pods varies considerably at harvest. Immature kernels that meet commercial edible size specifications negatively affect quality during processing due to their increased propensity for off flavors, higher moisture and water activity, and variable roasting properties. As peanuts progress toward maturation, late season flowering and subsequent pod development result in immature pods that will not have sufficient time to mature prior to harvest. Research was conducted from 2012 to 2014 USDA/ARS NPRL Bolton Irrigation Research Farm on a Ruston sandy loam (Fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleudults) to determine the effect of late season flower termination on peanut yield, grade, and post-harvest processing characteristics. Two pesticides, Diflufenzopyr-Na (D-Na) (BASF Biosciences) and Glyphosate, were applied at three lower than normal rates and at two timings were evaluated with a “hand removal” and a non-treated control. When pooled across locations, herbicide rates, and years, pod yield with D-Na and Glyphosate treatments were 9% and 4% greater than the untreated control, respectively. Sound Mature Kernels and Sound Splits were increased 1.5 percent. Specific rates and herbicide timings within D-Na showed the highest and most consistent improvement on peanut yield, grade, and post-harvest processing characteristics.