Genotype, environment, and their interaction effects on peanut seed protein, oil, and fatty acid content variability

Authors: Wang, Ming; Tonnis, Brandon; Li, Xianran; Benke, Ryan; HUANG, EDWARD - University Of Georgia; Tallury, Shyamalrau - Shyam; PUPPLALA, NAVEEN - New Mexico State University; PENG, ZE - University Of Florida; WANG, JIANPING - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2024
Publication Date: 3/22/2024
Citation: Wang, M.L., Tonnis, B.D., Li, X., Benke, R.L., Huang, E., Tallury, S.P., Pupplala, N., Peng, Z., Wang, J. 2024. Genotype, environment, and their interaction effects on peanut seed protein, oil, and fatty acid content variability. Crop Science. pgs. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21559.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21559

Interpretive Summary: Products from peanut seeds are nutritious for human and/or animal consumption. Peanut seed nutritional quality is determined by the genotype (G) of cultivars or accessions, environmental conditions (E), and their interactions (G x E). To evaluate the effects of genotype, environment, and their interactions on seed nutritional quality, 52 peanut germplasm accessions, which vary in oil content and fatty acid composition, were planted at three locations (Citra, FL; Byron, GA; and Clovis, NM) for two years (2017 and 2018). The harvested seeds were analyzed for protein, oil, and fatty acid composition. Significant effects of accession, gene, location, year, and their interactions on the investigated traits were evaluated. The average oil content from accessions grown in FL (51.1%) or GA (50.7%) was significantly higher than those grown in NM (45.8%), whereas the average protein content from accessions grown in FL (23.2%) was significantly lower than those grown in NM (25.4%) or GA (24.8%). This is expected as there is a negative correlation between oil and protein content. The results of this study provide insights into the seed nutritional analysis, germplasm evaluation, and peanut breeding, cultivation, and production to peanut breeders, curators, farmers, and product processors.

Technical Abstract: Products from peanut seeds are nutritious for human and/or animal consumption. Peanut seed nutritional quality is determined by the genotype (G) of cultivars or accessions, environmental conditions (E), and their interactions (G x E). To evaluate the effects of genotype, environment, and their interactions on seed nutritional quality, a panel of fifty-two peanut germplasm accessions, which vary in oil content and fatty acid composition, were planted at three locations (Citra, FL; Byron, GA; and Clovis, NM) for two years (2017 and 2018). The harvested seeds were analyzed for protein, oil, and fatty acid composition using an N analyzer, NMR, and GC, respectively. Significant effects of accession, FAD2 gene, location, year, and their interactions on the investigated traits were evaluated. The average oil content from accessions grown in FL (51.1%) or GA (50.7%) was significantly higher than those grown in NM (45.8%), whereas the average protein content from accessions grown in FL (23.2%) was significantly lower than those grown in NM (25.4%) or GA (24.8%). This is expected as there is a negative correlation between oil and protein content. After genotyping and classification (A/A, A/W, and G/W) for the FAD2A/FAD2B genes, the nutritional quality variations were further evaluated at the levels of the specific haplotype of FAD2A/FAD2B and explicit environmental index. The average prediction accuracy of seed nutritional quality trait values from the prediction model demonstrated that predicting trait values in new environments is feasible. The results of this study provide insights into the seed nutritional analysis, germplasm evaluation, and peanut breeding, cultivation, and production to peanut breeders, curators, farmers, and product processors.