Legacy genetics of arachis cardenasii in the peanut crop shows the profound benefits of international seed exchange

Authors: BERTIOLI, DAVID - University Of Georgia; CLEVENGER, JOSH - Hudsonalpha Institute For Biotechnology; GODOY, IGNACIO - Agronomic Institute; STALKER, THOMAS - North Carolina State University; WOOD, SHONA - University Of Southern Queensland; SANTOS, JOAO - Agronomic Institute; BALLEN-TABORDA, CAROLINA - University Of Georgia; ABERNATHY, BRIAN - University Of Georgia; AZEVEDO, VANIA - Embrapa; Campbell, Jacqueline; CHAVARRO, CAROLINA - University Of Georgia; CHU, YE - University Of Georgia; FARMER, ANDREW - National Center For Genome Resources; FONCEKA, DANIEL - Regional Study Centre For Resistance And Adaptation To Drought; Gao, Dongying; GRIMWOOD, JANE - Hudsonalpha Institute For Biotechnology; HALPIN, NEIL - Queensland Department Of Primary Industries & Fisheries; KORANI, WALID - Hudsonalpha Institute For Biotechnology; MICHELOTTO, MARCOS - Agencia Paulista De Tecnologia Dos Agronegocios/saa-Sp; OZIAS-AKINS, PEGGY - University Of Georgia; Vaughn, Justin; YOUNGBLOOD, RAMEY - Mississippi State University; MORETZSOHN, MARCIO - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; WRIGHT, GRAEME - Peanut Company Of Australia; JACKSON, SCOTT - Bayer Corporation; Cannon, Steven; Scheffler, Brian; LEAL-BERTIOLI, SORAYA C. - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2021
Publication Date: 9/21/2021
Citation: Bertioli, D.J., Clevenger, J., Godoy, I., Stalker, T., Wood, S., Santos, J., Ballen-Taborda, C., Abernathy, B., Azevedo, V., Campbell, J.D., Chavarro, C., Chu, Y., Farmer, A.D., Fonceka, D., Gao, D., Grimwood, J., Halpin, N., Korani, W., Michelotto, M.D., Ozias-Akins, P., Vaughn, J.N., Youngblood, R., Moretzsohn, M.C., Wright, G.C., Jackson, S.A., Cannon, S.B., Scheffler, B.E., Leal-Bertioli, S.M. 2021. Legacy genetics of Arachis cardenasii in the peanut crop shows the profound benefits of international seed exchange. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS). 118(38). Article e2104899118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2104899118.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2104899118

Interpretive Summary: The small number of crop species and their generally narrow genetics is a fundamental vulnerability to food security. Wild crop relatives are strategic sources of genetic diversity for the breeding of resistance to pests, diseases and environmental stresses. This work describes the incorporation of a wild peanut relative, Arachis cardenasii, into domesticated peanut, Arachis hypogaea. This genetic incorporation, initiated by scientists beginning in 1967, involved complex and challenging genetic crosses. Subsequent breeding cycles substantially obscured this contribution from the wild relative. However, the genetic legacy from this breeding work can now be seen in enhanced peanut cultivars in at least 30 countries, on all continents where peanut is grown. This work has improved food security and provided economic and environmental benefits. This study highlights the importance of wild species in breeding, and the unintended consequences of current restrictions on international trade in plant material.

Technical Abstract: The narrow genetics of most crops is a fundamental vulnerability to food security. This makes wild crop relatives a strategic resource of genetic diversity that can be used for crop improvement and adaptation to new agricultural challenges. Here we uncover the contribution of one wild species accession, Arachis cardenasii GKP 10017, to the peanut crop (A. hypogaea) that was initiated by complex hybridizations in the 1960s and propagated by international seed exchange. However, until this study, the global scale of dispersal of genetic contributions from this wild accession had been obscured by the multiple germplasm transfers, breeding cycles, and unrecorded genetic mixing between lineages that had occurred over the years. By genetic analysis and pedigree research, we identified A. cardenasii-enhanced, disease resistant cultivars in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. These cultivars provide widespread improved food security, and environmental and economic benefits. This study emphasizes the importance of wild species and collaborative networks of international expertise for crop improvement. However, it also highlights the consequences of the implementation of a patchwork of restrictive national laws and sea changes in attitudes regarding germplasm which followed in the wake of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Today, the botanical collections and multiple seed exchanges which enable benefits such as those revealed by this study, are drastically reduced. The research reported here underscores the vital importance of ready access to germplasm in ensuring long-term world food security.