Determination of the Relative Maturity Range for the ‘Georgia-02C’ Peanut Cultivar

Abstract Six digging dates [127, 134, 141, 148, 155, and 162 days after planting (DAP)] were utilized to determine the relative maturity range for the ‘Georgia-02C’ runner-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) cultivar. At the Alabama Wiregrass Research and Extension Center in 2005 and at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, the Georgia-02C cultivar was planted in mid-May each year. Recommended cultural practices with irrigation were used throughout the growing season. Results from these six digging dates on the Georgia-02C cultivar showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference across the six digging dates for pod yield and dollar values. The highest yields and highest dollar value returns per hectare were found most consistently at 141–155 DAP during this 5-yr (2005–09) study. The most mature pod profile percentages were found at the 148–162 DAP; whereas, the roasted peanutty flavor was found to have very little differences between the six digging dates. These data would suggest that Georgia-02C has a wide maturity range or harvest window which would allow for more flexibility at digging time.