Growth temperature and rhizome propagule characteristics affect rhizoma peanut shoot emergence and biomass partitioning

Abstract

Adoption of rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) is limited by slow establishment. Understanding the factors affecting RP biomass partitioning during the shoot emergence period may aid in developing management practices that enhance establishment. A growth chamber study was conducted to determine shoot emergence and overall growth responses of two RP entries (germplasm Ecoturf and ‘UF Tito’) to day/night temperature (20/10 and 30/20 °C). A greenhouse study evaluated similar responses to rhizome propagule length (10‐ and 20‐cm fragments) and presence or absence of an apical shoot. Shoot emergence was greater (4.9 vs. 2.6 pot−1) at a day/night temperature of 30/20 than 20/10 °C. Root‐rhizome/shoot ratio was much less when RP was grown at 30/20 °C (1.4) than at 20/10 °C (8.5). Growth of more upright‐growing UF Tito was superior to Ecoturf at the greater temperature. In the greenhouse experiment, number of shoots emerged from rhizomes was generally greater with smaller rhizome fragments (10 cm) from which apical shoots were removed, especially for UF Tito. Root‐rhizome/shoot ratio decreased with presence of an apical shoot due to increased shoot biomass, especially for Ecoturf. We conclude that greater growth temperature after planting results in more rapid shoot emergence and greater growth during early establishment, likely favoring summer vs. early spring planting dates, especially for UF Tito. Although RP biomass partitioning responded to presence of an apical shoot on propagules, rhizome length did not affect partitioning and presence of an apical shoot did not consistently influence biomass responses, suggesting no particular requirement for rhizome fragmentation prior to planting.

Exogenous Ca2+ priming can improve peanut photosynthetic carbon fixation and pod yield under early sowing scenarios in the field

“…The resultant is an imbalance source-to-sink relationship situation within the whole plant which affects many biochemical and physiological processes thereby curtailing growth. With more unpredictable and extreme weather events especially in high-latitude areas, establishing a simple exogenous chemical priming strategy to improve the cold adaptability of peanuts, is a major contribution toward improving peanut production ( Song et al., 2020 ; Wu et al., 2020 ; Aryal and Sollenberger, 2021 ; Liu et al., 2022 ).…”