Genetic variability and stability for flavor among runner and Virginia-type peanut cultivars in Georgia

Genetic stability for consistently good flavor is a very important quality characteristic sought in U.S. peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) breeding programs. Maintaining good flavor quality during short-term cold storage is likewise sought as an important genetic trait. After four years (2011-14) in cold-storage at approximately 10°C and 50% relative humidity, 10 runner and five Virginia-type peanut cultivars were compared for flavor. Roasted peanutty flavor was found to be significantly higher for ‘Georgia-09B’ and ‘Georgia-14N’ than ‘Tifguard’ and ‘Florida Fancy’ in the five-year average cold storage study. Likewise, Georgia-14N was found to have the highest five-year average cold-storage sweet taste flavor compared to Tifguard, Florida Fancy, and CHAMPS. In a separate study, 15 high-oleic runner and virginia-type peanut cultivars were compared for flavor when grown over three-years (2020-22) under maximum input practices with irrigation. In the most recent study, ‘Georgia-22MPR’ was found to have significantly higher combined good flavor (roasted peanutty plus sweet taste) compared to the three runner-type cultivars, ‘Georgia-16HO’, FloRun ‘331’ and TUFRunner ‘297’; and three virginia-type cultivars, ‘Georgia-19HP’, ‘Georgia-11J’, and ‘Sullivan’. However, Georgia-16HO and FloRun 331 were found to be statistically similar to all other runner-type cultivars; whereas Georgia-19HP was found to be statistically similar to the best-flavored Virginia-type cultivars in roasted peanutty flavor, sweet taste flavor, and combined good flavor. Heritability estimates for these latter 15 high-oleic runner and virginia-type cultivars averaged over the three-years were determined to be as follows: roasted peanutty flavor H = 0.0%, sweet taste flavor H = 22.5%, and combined good flavor (roasted peanutty and sweet taste) H= 23.1%.