INTRODUCTION

Peanut production and quality in Brazil have improved significantly since the introduction of runner-type peanut cultivars in the early 2000s (Suassuna and Costa 2023). In the 2022-2023 crop season, Brazil produced 892,600 metric tons of peanuts, and most of which were classified as high oleic (over 70% oleic acid content), which have improved shelf life (CONAB 2023). Approximately 70% of the domestic surplus meets the stringent quality standards of the international kernel market, while oil exports continue to grow steadily (Sampaio 2023).

More than 90% of Brazil’s peanut crop is produced in the southeastern region, especially in the state of São Paulo (FIESP 2021). Peanut cultivation is also expanding into the Southern region and the Brazilian savanna in Central Brazil. This growth has created an unprecedented demand for high-oleic runner peanut varieties that are well adapted to the Southern and Central regions of Brazil (Pereira et al. 2023, Suassuna and Costa 2023).

The Peanut Breeding Program of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) has developed cultivars to meet this growing demand. In 2017, the program registered three cultivars: ‘BRS 421 OL,’ ‘BRS 423 OL,’ and ‘BRS 425 OL.’ Initially selected for cultivation in the state of Goiás, these cultivars were later tested in other states through collaborations with cooperatives, processors, growers, and universities (Suassuna et al. 2019, Suassuna et al. 2020). These iterative, collaborative efforts enhanced technology transfer and facilitated the evaluation of new advanced lines developed by the Peanut Breeding Program of EMBRAPA in Brazil’s major peanut and grain producing regions.

This study describes the development of a new high-oleic peanut cultivar specifically adapted to the main peanut-producing regions of the states of São Paulo and Paraná as well as the Brazilian savanna biome.

GENETIC ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT

The cultivar ‘BRS 427 OL’ (breeding line ‘2018-2010 OL’) was developed using a modified pedigree method, as described by Suassuna et al. (2019) and Suassuna et al. (2020). During the F₂ and F₃ generations, peanut plants exhibiting runner-type traits-such as a decumbent growth habit, pods with two seeds and moderate constriction, and pink testa color - were selected in EMBRAPA’s experimental area in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás. The pedigree and selection process applied in the development of ‘BRS 427 OL’ are detailed below.

‘BRS 427 OL’ originated from a cross made in 2016 between ‘Runner IAC 886’ - a runner-type peanut cultivar with regular oleic acid content (53.1%) and pink testa color - and ‘BRS 423 OL,’ a high-yielding cultivar with medium maturity, medium seed size, tan testa color, and high oleic acid content (80.8%) (Suassuna et al. 2020). A single F₂ plant, designated as line ‘2018-2010,’ was selected from the F₂ population during the 2017-2018 growing season. In 2018, the oleic acid content of ‘2018-2010’ was evaluated nondestructively by using a 5-seed sample analyzed by near infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy, which detected 75.3% oleic acid content. A subsequent analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on a 20-seed sample confirmed an oleic acid content of 81.1% (Colnago et al. 2021). The F₃ progeny, renamed ‘2018-2010 OL,’ was tested and selected in field conditions during the 2018/19 growing season for its uniform growth habit, pod and seed shape and size, and pink testa color. Additional NMR analyses of oleic acid content in 2019 and 2020 confirmed levels of 82.0% and 81.0%, respectively. Further confirmation of high oleic acid content came through gas chromatography analyses of 500 g samples collected in 2020 (81.7%) and 2022 (81.4%). The morphological traits of ‘BRS 427 OL’ are presented in Table 1, while its main fatty acid composition and oil content are detailed in Table 2.

During the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 crop seasons, the breeding line ‘2018-2010 OL’ was evaluated in value for cultivation and use (VCU) field trials conducted in the Southeast and Central regions of Brazil. These trials confirmed its high yield, medium maturity (130-135 days), and large seeds with a pink testa color. Based on these results, the line was officially released as the cultivar ‘BRS 427 OL.’

PERFORMANCE AND DESCRIPTION

The agronomic performance of ‘BRS 427 OL’ was evaluated over three growing seasons across 18 multilocation field tests conducted in Goiás (GO), Minas Gerais (MG), São Paulo (SP), Paraná (PR), Mato Grosso (MT), Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), and Tocantins (TO). Pod yield (kg ha^-1) and the mass of 100 seeds were measured at all locations. The Selegen-Reml/Blup software was used for restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction (REML/BLUP) analysis (Resende 2016). Genotypic values of ‘BRS 427 OL’ and commercial checks were ranked based on a combined analysis across all locations. The mean genotypic pod yield for ‘BRS 427 OL’ across the 18 trials was 6222.2 kg ha^-1, outperforming the checks: ‘BRS 421 OL’ (5867 kg ha^-1), ‘BRS 423 OL’ (5294.1 kg ha^-1), ‘BRS 425 OL’ (5718.7 kg ha^-1), ‘IAC OL-3’ (5591.5 kg ha^-1), ‘Granoleico’ (4995.9 kg ha^-1), and ‘IAC 503’ (4678.8 kg ha^-1). The general mean yield across all trials was 5226.6 kg ha^-1, with an accuracy of 0.89 (Table 3). Results from the most representative field trials are summarized in Tables 4 and 5.

Individual analyses of variance for pod yield and the mass of 100 seeds at six locations in Goiás and São Paulo State is summarized in Table 4. ‘BRS 427 OL’ consistently ranked among the highest-yielding genotypes at Santo Antônio de Goiás, Parapuã (in both the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons), Piraju, and Getulina. At Tupã, however, it ranked within the second group due to severe spotted wilt epidemics combined with extremely high temperatures and drought. Despite similar challenging conditions at Getulina and Parapuã during the 2021-2022 season, ‘BRS 427 OL’ remained among the top-yielding genotypes. The mass of 100 seeds across these locations ranged from 75.7 g to 85.0 g.

Individual analyses of variance for pod yield and the mass of 100 seeds at six locations with optimal conditions in Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Tocantins, and Mato Grosso is summarized in Table 5. The highest yield (9,609.6 kg ha^-1) was recorded at Iturama during the 2019/2020 season. Near 7,000 kg ha^-1 yields were observed at Maringá and Palmas during the 2021-2022 season, as well as at Iturama in the 2022-2023 season. At Santo Antônio do Leste, the yield was high (6,343.9 kg ha⁻¹) but lower than that of ‘BRS 421 OL.’ Conversely, at Cassilândia, the yield surpassed ‘BRS 421 OL’ and equaled that of ‘BRS 423 OL.’ The mass of 100 seeds across these locations ranged from 75.8 g to 89.1 g. These results supported the recommendation of ‘BRS 427 OL’ for these key regions, where peanut cultivation is expanding. In all these states, ‘BRS 427 OL’ is recommended as a high-yielding cultivar with medium maturity, large seeds, and pink testa color.

The performance of ‘BRS 427 OL’ in locations affected by spotted wilt epidemics was comparable to other checks, such as ‘BRS 423 OL’ and ‘BRS 425 OL.’ Moderate to severe symptoms were observed in both plants and seeds (data not shown). Spotted wilt, a disease caused by Orthotospovirus and transmitted by thrips, has become epidemic in some locations in western São Paulo over the past decade (Camelo-Garcia et al. 2014, Michelotto et al. 2019). Given the potential damage observed in experimental and commercial fields in the northwest region of São Paulo State, we recommend cultivating ‘BRS 427 OL’ during early planting times. This timing promotes better plant development and yield under spotted wilt epidemic conditions. ‘BRS 427 OL’ is also susceptible to late leaf spot (caused by Nothopassalora personata), requiring up to eight fungicide applications during the crop season to manage the disease effectively.

SEED MAINTENANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

‘BRS 427 OL’ is registered under catalog number 53994 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Foundation seed production is carried out by EMBRAPA in collaboration with peanut seed companies to support certified seed production.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank for partnership in field trials and financial support: Ademir Manduca and Juliano Rodrigo Coró (Manduca Exportadora e Importadora Ltda); Antonio Celso Camolese and Rubens Iamanaka (Cerealista Canaã); Júlio Arruda, Maurício Danelutti and André Samir Uchelli (Cooperativa Agropecuária de Parapuã - Casul); Rodrigo Francfort (Francfort Trade); Ricardo Fernandes and Marcel Bazanella (Amenco Peanuts); Carlos Roberto Rodrigues and Antônio Carlos Aparecido Filho in memorian (MGV Agroindustrial); Dorival Agulhon, Fabiano Agulhon and Itamar Alves (Agulhon Agroindustrial). The Peanut Breeding Program was supported by grants from Embrapa (SEG 20.18.01.021.00 and 20.22.01.004.00).

Data Availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current research are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

REFERENCES

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