High Levels of Field Resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus in Peanut Breeding Lines Derived from hypogaea and hirsuta Botanical Varieties

Tomato spotted wilt, caused by Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) is a major problem in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) producing areas of the southeastern U.S. The integrated program used to manage spotted wilt relies heavily on cultivars with field resistance to TSWV, and finding new sources and greater levels of resistance to TSWV is highly desirable. Field tests were conducted in 2003 and 2004 in Marianna, FL and Tifton, GA to compare three peanut breeding lines, F NC94022-1-2-1-1-b3-B, C 11-2-39, and C 11-186 to that of standard moderately resistant cultivar Georgia Green for field response to TSWV. F NC94022-1-2-1-1-b3-B was of particular interest because it was developed from a cross between lines of A. hypogaea subsp. hypogaea var. hirsuta Kohler and A. hypogaea subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea. In all tests, final spotted wilt ratings for breeding lines F NC94022-1-2-1-1-b3-B, C 11-2-39, and C 11-186 were lower and pod yields were higher than for Georgia Green. In three tests, final spotted wilt intensity ratings did not differ among F NC94022-1-2-1-1-b3-B, C 11-2-39, and C 11-186. At Marianna in 2004, spotted wilt intensity ratings were lower and pod yields were higher in F NC94022-1-2-1-1-b3-B than in any other entry. The high level of field resistance to TSWV in F NC94022-1-2-1-1-b3-B is presumably derived from its hirsuta type parent, PI 576638.