Genetic Improvement of Groundnut

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a vital oilseed crop known for its high protein content. It also serves as a critical source of fodder for the cattle industry in many developing nations. Nevertheless, the overall productivity of groundnuts is hindered by a range of biotic and abiotic stressors due to their geocarpic growth habit. Prior endeavours to tackle these challenges by creating enhanced groundnut cultivars and integrating resistance and tolerance mechanisms are often needed to be improved due to subpar pod and kernel quality. A promising option resides in biotechnological interventions, particularly the direct or indirect alteration of foreign genes, which can augment overall crop production. The study involved genetically modifying groundnuts using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens system to introduce the AtNHX1 gene, which codes for a vacuolar-type Na+/H+ antiporter, under the supervision of the 35S promoter. The findings demonstrated that transgenic plants harbouring the AtNHX1 gene displayed excessive resistance to elevated salt levels and water scarcity among off-type fauna. Significantly, the genetically modified plants exhibited heightened concentrations of salt and proline in their leaves, suggesting enhanced resistance to stress. The effectiveness of biotechnological interventions, such as gene transformation, is demonstrated by genetically modified groundnut genotypes that possess inherent resistance to stressors and improved yield characteristics. These contemporary molecular biotechnological methods demonstrate heightened resilience to different stresses, ultimately improving crop growth and yield. The stress-tolerant groundnut varieties that have been modified can be used as parent plants in conventional breeding initiatives. This enables the cultivation of cultivars that are immune to bacterial, viral, fungal, and other ailments, as well as resilient to drought and salinity. This chapter explores the historical background and future potential of genetic modification technologies that enhance groundnut varieties against significant biological and environmental challenges. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.